Tigers 4, Royals 3: Detroit completes the sweep on the road at KC

Snap Reaction: You hate to get into the habit of saying the Tigers know a game lasts for nine innings ... but they have done an excellent job at rallying in the last third of the game. Doing that again helped them sweep Kansas City and win their fourth consecutive game.

Detroit found itself behind, 3-1, but began the rally with a run in the fifth. Two more in the seventh, aided by Royals manager Ned Yost trying out several pieces of his bullpen, gave the Tigers all the runs they'd need for their ninth win of the season. Detroit went 4-2 on the road trip, and now flies home to meet the AL-leading Texas Rangers in a real marquee matchup.

Max Scherzer had a fairly decent start. Technically speaking, it was a quality start. He allowed three runs in 6+ innings. He had three strikeouts while allowing six hits and two walks. The third and fourth innings hurt him most. All three runs came in that span, two on a two-run home run by Alcides Escobar in the third, the other run on a double by Humberto Quintero in the fourth.

Scherzer's teammates lifted him out of the 3-1 deficit. Prince Fielder drove in Miguel Cabrera in the fifth, showing the middle of the order is starting to get back on track. Gerald Laird scored on a wild pitch in the seventh, then Fielder drove in Cabrera again for the 4-3 lead.

Detroit originally took the 1-0 lead when Jhonny Peralta knocked in Ryan Raburn with a single.

We had a Phil Coke sighting. He got three fly balls in the seventh -- three chances to point a finger in the sky -- for three outs. Maybe he was just pointing at the fireworks though. Quintero was plunked by Scherzer to lead off the inning. He appeared to take exception and tossed down his bat. Gerald Laird didn't appreciate that and told him so. Both teams did some slow motion wind sprints toward home plate before nothing happened and they got bored and went back to their dugouts. So that was fun, I guess.

What wasn't fun was the start of the ninth. Jose Valverde allowed a pair of base runners while getting just one out to start the inning. Then he got a grounder to third. Cabrera fielded cleanly, touched the bag, made the throw and the double play ended the game. Not too shabby work by the big guy.

3 ROARS

Prince Fielder -- 2 hits, 2 RBI, STOLEN BASE

Gerald Laird - 2 hits, game-tying run scored on a wild pitch, barked at Quintero

Max Scherzer -- 6 innings, 3 runs allowed

3 HISSES

Brandon Inge - 0-for-4, 2K, 4 LOB

Brennan Boesch - 0-for-5

Austin Jackson - 0-for-4 extending hitless streak to 10 hitless at bats

YESTERDAY'S PLAYER OF THE GAME

Drew Smyly by a mile. May have been the biggest win yet at 89%