Matt Vierling's sixth-inning single capped a rally that carried the visiting Detroit Tigers past the Kansas City Royals 7-6 on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.

Pinch hitter Wenceel Perez's two-run double against reliever Sam Long (3-2) tied the game at 6 in the sixth. Vierling then collected his third hit, an opposite-field line drive to right off John Schreiber, capped the three-run frame.

Trailing 4-0, Detroit began its comeback in the fourth on Zach McKinstry's triple and Trey Sweeney's sacrifice fly. The Tigers added three in the fifth, highlighted by Colt Keith's 13th homer, a two-run shot to right-center that brought the visitors within 5-4.

The Tigers collected four hits in the fifth to chase Royals starter Seth Lugo, who threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. Lugo struck out four and walked two.

Detroit reliever Brenan Hanifee (1-1) gave up one run in 2 1/3 innings for his first major league win. Jason Foley earned his 24th save with a hitless ninth.

Parker Meadows, Spencer Torkelson and McKinstry had two hits apiece for the Tigers, who have won 8 of 11. Detroit (78-73) gained a game in the American League wild-card race behind Minnesota, which lost 4-3 in Cleveland. The Tigers now sit 1 1/2 games back of the Twins in the chase for the last AL playoff berth.

Loading the bases to open the third, Kansas City took a 4-0 lead when Bobby Witt Jr. lifted Reese Olson's one-out curveball into the left field stands for a grand slam.

Returning from a right shoulder strain to pitch for the first time since July 20, Olson threw 2 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

In the fourth, Kansas City's MJ Melendez tripled and scored on pinch hitter Maikel Garcia's single through a drawn-in infield for a 5-1 advantage.

After Kyle Isbel opened the bottom of the fifth with a triple to right, Witt added a fifth RBI on an infield single -- his 200th hit of the year -- for a 6-4 Royals lead.

Isbel and Yuli Gurriel each had two hits for Kansas City (82-69), which fell five games behind first-place Cleveland in the AL Central.

Royals reliever James McArthur exited the game in the seventh with right elbow tightness.

--Field Level Media