Bobby Witt Jr. logged an RBI single and Salvador Perez added a two-run double. Both hits came in the third inning. The Royals didn’t score again until the ninth; Vinnie Pasquantino homered in his fifth consecutive game in the loss.

BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Tigers, on a five-game home winning streak, host the Kansas City Royals. Detroit has gone 43-24 in home games and 77-53 overall. Tigers pitchers have a collective 3.77 ERA, which ranks fourth in the AL.

Amid the Royals struggles, Vinnie Pasquantino continues to mash, homering again for the fifth straight day.

Right-hander Casey Mize (12-4, 3.63 ERA) will start for the Tigers against Royals right-hander Ryan Bergert (0-1, 2.70). Bergert was acquired at the trade deadline from the San Diego Padres in exchange for catcher Freddy Fermín.

The Kansas City Royals arrived at Comerica Park with renewed momentum after finishing a successful 8-2 homestand. There are a lot of words to describe the Royals’ hot stretch. Refreshing is certainly one that comes to mind. But it’s clear the Royals have more work ahead to earn a postseason berth.

The Detroit Tigers begin a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals on "Friday Night Baseball" today. Find out how to watch for free.

The Tigers (77-53) have won four straight and eight of their last nine. They lead the Royals (66-63) by 10 1/2 games in the AL Central.

Riley Greene hit his 30th homer, a two-run shot, and the host Detroit Tigers rallied past the Kansas City Royals 7-5 on Friday. Zach McKinstry supplied a solo homer, triple and single, while Gleyber Torres contributed two hits,