KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ The Detroit Tigers didn't give up.
Not after seeing one of their top offensive players, J.D. Martinez, traded away Tuesday night to the Arizona Diamondbacks for three prospects that aren't ready to contribute in the major leagues.
The Tigers also didn't give up after left-handed pitcher Matt Boyd allowed three runs in the first inning.
The Tigers responded with a five-run second inning and went on to beat the Kansas Royals, 9-3, at Kauffman Stadium.
Nick Castellanos certainly didn't give up. He led the way with a triple, two home runs, a single and five RBI for the Tigers. It was his third career five RBI game.
The Tigers officially became sellers when they traded away Martinez, who is due to become a free agent after the season. But they've now won four straight games.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Monday his goal is still to win as many games as possible this season.
The Tigers' first four batters in the second had hits off left-hander Travis Wood. Miguel Cabera led off with a single and Mikie Mahtook followed with a double. Victor Martinez added a two-run single to center. James McCann then singled to left. Dixon Machado's sacrifice fly to right brought home Martinez to tie the game at 3. After an Ian Kinsler double, Castellanos hit a two-run triple to right.
Castellanos added a solo home run to left-center in the fifth to put the Tigers ahead, 6-3. It was
He hit his second solo home run of the game in the seventh, this time to center. He has four home runs over his past four games and now has 14 home runs for the season.
Castellanos added an RBI single in the eighth to give the Tigers a six-run cushion.
Castellanos became the fourth Tiger since 1913 to have a single, triple and two or more home runs in a game. The last Tiger to do that was Dimitri Young at Baltimore on May 6, 2003.
The Tigers added another run in the seventh after Justin Upton stole third. When catcher Salvador Perez's throw sailed wide and dribbled toward the outfield, Upton sprinted home and beat the ensuing play at the plate for an 8-3 lead.
Boyd, called up from Triple-A Toledo, settled down nicely after hitting a batter and giving up four hits in the first inning.
He allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings for the Tigers. He walked one and struck out three.
Boyd had runners on the corners in the sixth. With two outs, he gave up a walk to Alcides Escobar and a single to Alex Gordon. After a mound visit by pitching coach Rich Dubee, Boyd got out of the jam when Ramon Torres grounded into a force at short.
