Tigers 6, Royals 3: Prince Fielder homered and had three RBIs as host Detroit won the opener of the three-game series.

Justin Verlander (13-11) halted a six-start winless drought, giving up three runs on nine hits while striking out seven in 6 2/3 innings to keep the first-place Tigers six games in front of Cleveland in the American League Central. Joaquin Benoit escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and worked around a single to lead off the ninth for his 19th save in as many chances.

Torii Hunter also had three RBIs, including a two-run single in the fifth as the Tigers handed Kansas City only its second loss in six games. The Royals fell eight games back in the division and 3 1/2 behind Tampa Bay in the race for the second wild card.

Salvador Perez had two hits and two RBIs and Billy Butler added a run-scoring single for Kansas City, which saw starter Bruce Chen (7-3) last only 4 1/3 innings and surrender six runs (five earned) on seven hits.

Fielder put the Tigers ahead to stay with a two-run blast, his 24th, in the fourth and followed Hunter's two-run single with an RBI single in the fifth to extend the lead to 6-1. Butler and Perez singled in runs in the sixth to cut the deficit to 6-3 and the Royals had the bases loaded with one out in the eighth but were unable to push a run across.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera doubled in the fourth inning for his first extra-base hit since Aug. 26. ... Royals LF Alex Gordon committed an error in the first inning that led to a run for his first miscue since Sept. 12, 2012 - also at Comerica Park. ... Fielder's three RBIs gave him 102 for the season and marked the sixth time in seven years he reach 100.