Top 9th: Tigers 6, Royals 5
Matt Strahm stayed in the game for the Royals.
Alex Avila was first-pitch swinging to start the ninth and he popped out to third. Miguel Cabrera only needed two pitches to ground out to third and Victor Martinez grounded out to short on just three pitches to end the top of the ninth.
Bottom 8th: Tigers 6, Royals 5
Alex Wilson replaced Shane Greene who faced just one batter in the seventh.
Relief pitching continued to be the name for the first two outs of the eighth as Eric Hosmer struck out swinging for the first out.