KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Despite being only two games above .500 and facing a 6.5-game deficit against first-place Detroit, the Kansas City Royals believe they have their rivals right where they want them. Judging by recent history, maybe they do. A five-run seventh inning keyed by Omar Infantes two-run single and an RBI double from Eric Hosmer enabled the Royals to avoid a demoralizing four-game sweep against the Tigers on Sunday. It also brought to mind the league-best 33-20 mark they logged last season after stumbling into the All-Star break on a five-game losing streak. "Were eight games better than we were at this time last year," manager Ned Yost said. "And were a second-half team. Weve always been a second-half team." Exactly why they seem to play better after the break, no one seems to know. "Im not sure," designated hitter Billy Butler said. "The seasons long, It wears on guys as they get older. Were young. And sometimes I think as guys get older ... I dont know." But he does know last years second-half surge makes this years challenge seem less daunting. "Were just better the second half. Its our track record and were starting to count on it." Four of the seventh-inning runs were charged to Justin Verlander (8-8), who started the inning with a two-hit shutout but loaded the bases on three straight singles. "Things were going well for us and we ran into the seventh," said Verlander, who lost for just the fifth time in 15 decisions in Kauffman Stadium. "A couple of balls fell in the right spots and Im out of the ballgame. They were able to find some spots." Since June 18 when K.C. beat the Tigers for their 10th straight win and went a season-best seven games over .500, the Royals have gone 9-14 while the Tigers went 17-6. Verlander gave up six hits in 6 1/3 innings, struck out three and walked one. Yordano Ventura (7-7) pitched 1 2/3 innings in his first career relief appearance and got the win. He allowed one hit and struck out three for the Royals, who beat the Tigers for only the first time in seven tries this year at home. Greg Holland pitched a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 26 opportunities. After Raul Ibanez loaded the bases in the seventh with a single that snapped a 0-for-25 skid, Alcides Escobar brought in a run with a slow-rolling infield single that second baseman Ian Kinsler failed to pick up cleanly. A second run then scored on Jarrod Dysons fielders choice. Ian Krol replaced Verlander and after intentionally walking pinch hitter Salvador Perez, gave up a two-run single to Omar Infante that made it 4-2. "I waited for that pitch and made good contact," Infante said. Hosmers double stretched his career-best hitting streak to 13 games. Rajai Davis and Austin Jackson opened the third with back-to-back singles and the Tigers took a 2-0 lead on Miguel Cabreras sacrifice fly and a two-out bloop single by J.D. Martinez, which fell in between shortstop Escobar and left fielder Ibanez as Jackson came around from first. NOTES: Jackson proved a perfect leadoff hitter in this series, starting all four games with a base hit, three singles and a double. ... Martinez made two nifty running catches in the right-field corner. Martinez was also 3 for 4. ... These were the only home games for the Royals during a 19-game stretch that began on June 30 and runs through July 23. ... The Royals, Dodgers, Yankees and Mariners are the only major league teams with losing records at home and winning marks on the road. ... All nine of Detroits hits were singles. 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Basket Adidas Nmd r2 Pas Cher . The game got off to a less-than-ideal start for the Jets as Oliver Ekman-Larsson found a wide open net from the slot and opened the scoring for the Coyotes a lead in the first period, but Olli Jokinen answered back just over half a minute later.SEATTLE -- After three more years in the minors and another lost season to Tommy John surgery, Aaron Poreda wondered if he would ever get a chance to win another major league game. He got an answer for that question on Saturday night. Poreda pitched two scoreless innings to get the win when the Texas Rangers held off the Seattle Mariners for a 6-3 victory Saturday night. Mitch Moreland drove in Prince Fielder with a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth, and Texas added two more runs in the ninth. It was Poredas first victory since June 25, 2009, for the Chicago White Sox against the Los Angeles Dodgers. "Its amazing just to be back," Poreda said. "Its amazing to be put in the opportunity to get a win." Poreda (1-0) allowed one hit, struck out two and issued an intentional walk. With two runners on in the seventh inning, Poreda struck out Kyle Seager with a slider to keep the game tied at 3. "He threw strikes, had a good changeup working," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "It helped us tremendously that he gave us those two innings." Texas added two more runs in the ninth against Joe Beimel. Leonys Martin scored on a wild pitch and Fielder singled in Elvis Andrus to give Texas a 6-3 cushion. Joakim Soria pitched a scoreless ninth for his sixth save in six chances. Poreda is getting more work due in part to Pedro Figueroa landing on the disabled list with left elbow inflammation. But Poreda thinks there is room in the bullpen for both left-handers when Figueroa returns. He also isnt planning to wait another five years to get his next victory. "I have a lot higher expectations and goals than just one win. This is just the start of a great season," Poreda said. In the leadoff spot for the first time this season, Michael Saunders homered off Colby Lewis to give the Mariners an early 1-0 lead.dddddddddddd Seager led off the second with another homer and then scored on Mike Zuninos sacrifice fly in the fourth. The Rangers appeared to be in trouble, down 3-0 with Felix Hernandez on the mound for Seattle. But Texas managed to run up Hernandezs pitch count and broke through for three runs in the fifth inning. Singles from Moreland, Donnie Murphy and Martin loaded the bases with no outs. Robinson Chirinos drew a walk on four pitches to push Moreland across for the Rangers first run. Michael Choice singled in another run and Andrus sacrifice fly tied it at 3. "They were swinging at the first pitch and I was making a mistake staying in the middle of the plate and they were able to put a good swing on it," Hernandez said. "Three straight hits and after that, I dont even remember the last time I walked somebody on four straight pitches with the bases loaded." Hernandez allowed five hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked three. Charlie Furbush (0-2) got the loss. NOTES: Texas is expected to activate LHP Matt Harrison from the 15-day disabled to start Sundays series finale. Harrison hasnt appeared in a game since April 6, 2013. Harrison was the opening-day starter for Texas last season but only made two starts before landing on the disabled list in need of surgeries to his back and torso. He won 18 games for the Rangers in 2012. RHP Brandon Maurer (0-0, 2.08 ERA) will start for Seattle ... It was Saunders third career leadoff homer. ... Seager is batting .360 (9 for 25) with three homers and seven RBIs in his last seven starts. Hes raised his average from .170 to .213 over that span. ' ' '