DETROIT – Brandon Inge drove in three runs and the Detroit Tigers took advantage of four Kansas City errors to beat the Royals 5-3 Saturday night.

With the game tied at 3 in the sixth, Nook Logan, considered one of baseball’s fastest players, led off with a single off Mike Wood (3-4). He scored from first when right fielder Terrence Long allowed Inge’s single to get past him.

After a flyout, Chris Shelton singled and Magglio Ordonez walked to load the bases. Rondell White made it 5-3 by beating out a possible double-play grounder.

Jason Johnson (6-7) improved to 4-1 at Comerica Park, allowing three runs and seven hits in eight innings. Johnson has a 1.95 ERA in 10 home starts this year.

Kyle Farnsworth struck out the side in the ninth for his third save.

J.P. Howell’s winless streak extended to six starts, as he allowed three runs – two earned – in 4 1-3 innings.

David DeJesus led off the game with his sixth homer, and the Royals kept the Tigers from tying it in the bottom of the first with a nice defensive play. Ivan Rodriguez hit a ball with the bases loaded and two outs that deflected off third baseman Mark Teahen to shortstop Angel Berroa, who threw to second to force White.

Alberto Castillo’s RBI single made it 2-0 in the second before Detroit began to capitalize on Kansas City’s defensive mistakes.

Consecutive errors by Teahen and Berroa put two men on, and both runners moved up on Logan’s sacrifice bunt. Inge then lifted a ball down the right field line for a sacrifice fly.

In the fourth, Inge’s two-run double put the Tigers ahead, but Mike Sweeney’s homer to left tied it in next inning.

The Tigers had runners at second and third with one out in the fifth, but Wood came out of the bullpen to strike out Rodriguez. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, he fanned Hooper to end the inning.

Notes: Hooper, who had played in three games as a late-inning replacement, was making the first start of his major league career. … Placido Polanco (hamstring) and Dmitri Young (calf) both sat out the game. … Kansas City hadn’t made four errors in a game since last Aug. 8 against Anaheim.

AP-ES-07-16-05 2155EDT


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