KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals set season highs with 15 runs, 20 hits and length of game, two minutes shy of four hours.

Kendrys Morales stroked four hits and drove in four runs and Lorenzo Cain hit a three-run homer as the Royals outslugged the Detroit Tigers 15-7 Thursday night.

Designated hitter Morales, who hit a two-run double in a six-run seventh to break the game open, upped his RBI total to 98, which ranks second in the American League.

Center fielder Cain, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games, was one of six Royals with a multi-hit game. Cain, who has injected his name into the American League MVP race, raised his average to .315.

"It was definitely a long game, but we will take that kind of win," Cain said.

Second baseman Ben Zobrist also collected four hits, scored three runs and drove in two runs. While rookie left fielder Paulo Orlando belted a two-run homer.

Right-hander Chris Young (10-6), the second of five Kansas City pitchers, picked up the victory with two scoreless innings.

Rookie left-hander Ken Ryan (1-3) was charged with the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

The Royals' victory was their 82nd, which means they will have a winning record for three consecutive seasons for the first time since 1987-89.

The Tigers allowed 61 runs in a 1-5 trip to Kansas City and Toronto.

"You better learn from it," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus is. "You better try to get better cause if it gets any worse I don't know what we'll do. This was a very tough road trip for the pitching staff. We do have some young guys, but we've got to work to get them better. Some tough lessons learned on this road trip.

"We're not pitching very well. We have faced two of the better offensive clubs in the American League in the last two series. But we've got to pitch better than that."

The first inning lasted 47 minutes and required 76 pitches -- 38 each by Tigers rookie left-hander Matt Boyd and Royals right-hander Edinson Volquez -- with 14 men coming to the plate.

It featured five runs, seven hits, two walks and mound visits by each pitching coach.

Tigers center fielder Anthony Gose began it by hammering Volquez's third pitch over the right field fence. Volquez yielded singles to second baseman Ian Kinsler and first baseman Miguel Cabrera before getting an out, right fielder J.D. Martinez on a fielder's choice grounder.

Volquez struck out designated hitter Victor Martinez before third baseman Nick Castellanos hit a two-run double to right, making it 3-0.

Boyd did not fare much better in the bottom of the first, yielding singles to Zobrist and Cain to start the inning. Boyd had first baseman Eric Hosmer down in the count 0-2 before walking him to load the bases, prompting a visit from pitching coach Jeff Jones.

Jones hardly made it back to the dugout before Morales drilled the second pitch, a changeup, for a two-run single to left, cutting the lead to 3-2.

Boyd, who was acquired from the Blue Jays in the David Price trade, faced four batters in the second and didn't retire any of them. Third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert and shortstop Christian Colon started the inning with singles. Zobrist's second single scored Cuthbert.

Again Jones came out for a mound counsel, but three pitches later, Cain popped a 2-0 fastball over the left-center fence for his 14th home run.

That brought out manager Brad Ausmus and left-hander Ken Ryan in from the bullpen. Boyd wound up allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks in one-plus inning. His ERA soared to 8.36.

The Tigers got to Volquez for three runs in the third, all with two outs, to tie the score at 6. Castellanos, left fielder Tyler Collins and catcher James McCann delivered run-producing hits.

The inning also included Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias getting hit in the right hand while attempting to bunt and going down in pain before being led off by trainer Kevin Rand. X-rays were negative, showing a bruised middle finger. Iglesias will be re-evaluated Friday in Detroit.

Volquez was replaced by Chris Young after three innings. He allowed six runs on eight hits and a walk.

"Just a bad day," Volquez said.

The Tigers scored only one run in six innings off four Kansas City relievers.

"They came in above the call of duty to get us through," Royals manager Ned Yost said.

The Royals forged ahead 8-6 in the fourth with left fielder Alex Gordon's sacrifice fly with the bases loaded scoring Hosmer with the first run. Catcher Salvador Perez punched a two-out single to score Morales to expand the lead.

NOTES: Tigers LHP Kyle Lobstein was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list and will start Friday against the Indians at Comerica Park. Cleveland will counter with 2014 Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. ... The Tigers outrighted RHP Josh Zeid to Triple-A Toledo. ... Royals 3B Mike Moustakas was not in the lineup for the third straight day because of a hamstring issue. ... White Sox LHP John Danks and Royals RHP Kris Medlen are the probables for a Friday matchup. ... Slumping Royals SS Alcides Escobar, who hit .160 in his past 12 games, was not in the lineup. Rookie Christian Colon started at short.