Alex Gordon belted a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 2-1 victory over the visiting Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

Kyle Davies (7-9) went six strong innings, allowing one run on three hits. He struck out four and walked three.

Wilson Betemit had an RBI ground-rule double and Billy Butler added two hits as the Royals took the series finale to avoid a three-game sweep. Butler went 7-for-13 in the three-game set.

Closer Joakim Soria, Kansas City’s third reliever, worked a perfect ninth for his 37th save.

Casper Wells hit a solo home run in the fifth inning for the only run for Detroit, which had its three-game winning streak snapped.

Brad Thomas (5-2) took the loss in relief of Tigers starter Armando Galarraga, who gave up one run on four hits while striking out two and walking five in five innings.