DETROIT _ Tyler Collins hit a game-tying home run in the seventh inning in his first game back since giving the bird to Comerica Park fans out of frustration in April.
Later in the inning, Victor Martinez hit a two-out, two-run infield single off Joakim Soria to give the Tigers the lead as they beat the Kansas City Royals, 4-2, before 37,447 on Friday night at Comerica Park.
Justin Verlander (9-6) allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits over seven innings for the win. He walked two and struck out 10. It was the fourth time this season he has fanned at least 10.
But Verlander couldn't escape, giving up a big hit to Salvador Perez.
Right fielder Steven Moya failed to make a catch at the wall on what was scored a double for Perez. Eric Hosmer scored on the hit, and Kendrys Morales scored on a throwing error by second baseman Ian Kinsler to give the Royals a 2-1 lead.
Perez was 1-for-3 against Verlander is batting .469 (23-for-49) lifetime against him.
Collins, called up with Justin Upton on the bereavement list, hit his first home run of the season to tie the game at 2. Collins was batting .214 with seven home runs for Triple-A Toledo.
Kinsler hit his 17th home run to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the first. Kinsler's home run to left-center off right-hander Ian Kennedy was his 35th career leadoff home run and third this season. Kinsler is tied with Bobby Bonds for eighth on MLB's all-time list for leadoff home runs.
Verlander struck out the side in the first inning. He allowed three hits and had nine strikeouts over the first five innings.
Verlander was throwing 93-95 mph in the first inning and hit 97-98 in the seventh.
Justin Wilson pitched a scoreless eighth with one strikeout, and Francisco Rodriguez gave up a one-out single to Cheslor Cuthbert in the ninth. Rodriguez got Brett Eibner to strike out swinging at a change-up. Alcides Escobar flied to right to give Rodriguez his 25th save.
