Tigers 9, Royals 3 Snap Reaction: Detroit's bats come alive

After a terrible past 10 days or so, the fans and Tigers both needed a little pick-me-up. They both got that tonight.

Taking advantage of a little luck and a lot of contact off Kansas City starter Luke Hochevar, the first seven Tigers to come to the plate reached first safely. Add in two errors by the Royals, and the rout was on. Detroit tacked on a few more runs in the second and cruised to an easy 9-3 win.

The real stories were Austin Jackson and Rick Porcello. The Tigers' leadoff batter, Jackson went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Meanwhile, Porcello matched a career-high eight innings on the mound while allowing three runs. Rick Thompson of the Tigers reports it's Porcello's seventh career eight-inning outing and first since July 29 of last season. Porcello got 18 ground balls, and struck out three. He allowed seven hits and no walks

Miguel Cabrera, Andy Dirks and Jhonny Peralta each had two-hit games. Cabrera and Dirks doubled.

Dirks, by the way, left with more pain in his hamstring. He was said to be day-to-day.

Hochevar went four innings for the Royals, allowing nine runs on 12 hits and three walks.