Royals lose again to first-place Tigers 5-4

Doug Fister set an AL record by striking out nine straight batters and the Tigers increased their lead in the division, beating Kansas City 5-4 Thursday on Alex Avila's grounder in the ninth inning. The Royals lost four straight at Comerica Park and made five errors in the finale.

The Tigers opened a two-game edge over the second-place Chicago White Sox, who lost 3-2 at home to Tampa Bay. Detroit plays a three-game series at Minnesota before finishing up with three games in Kansas City.

Fister struck out Salvador Perez to end the top of the fourth, starting a streak that didn't end until Perez grounded out to the shortstop on a two-strike pitch in the seventh.

Fister came within one strikeout of matching Tom Seaver's major league record of 10 in a row.

"His stuff was unbelievable," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Tremendous movement on his two-seam (fastball). Tremendous movement on his slider. We couldn't get to it."

But the Tigers blew a 4-0 lead after seven innings, and Joaquin Benoit (5-3) allowed a solo homer by Billy Butler to tie it in the ninth.

Prince Fielder led off the Detroit ninth with a chopper that went past the mound and charging shortstop Tony Abreu. The hefty slugger made it all the way to second for a double on a ball that only ended up a few feet beyond the infield.

Delmon Young was intentionally walked, and pinch-hitter Ramon Santiago bunted into a forceout at third, leaving runners at first and second. Kelvin Herrera replaced Tim Collins (5-4) on the mound and got Jhonny Peralta to hit what looked like a potential double-play grounder to third, but Mike Moustakas misplayed it for his third error of the game.

Avila hit a full-count pitch to first. Brayan Pena made a diving stop and touched the bag, but had no play at the plate.