Edward Olivares and Emmanuel Rivera homered in a three-run second inning, and the Kansas City Royals beat Detroit 7-4 on Sunday to take two of three from the Tigers.

José Cuas (2-0) relieved Brady Singer with the bases loaded and a 5-2 lead with two outs in the fifth and retired Javier Báez on a lineout that right fielder Whit Merrifield got with a sliding catch.

Scott Barlow pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save in 14 chances.

Detroit has lost 14 of its last 20 games and at 30-47 is one game ahead of last-place Kansas City (29-48) in the AL Central.

Singer gave up two runs and six hits and matched his career high with nine strikeouts.

Andrew Benintendi’s RBI double in the fifth chased Tarik Skubal, and Wily Peralta loaded the bases with a walk to Bobby Witt Jr., then walked Olivares on four pitches.

Jason Foley walked Michael A. Taylor with the bases loaded in the seventh.

Lopez added an RBI single in the ninth.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Jonathan Heasley (1-4, 5.20) starts Monday’s series opener at Houston. Pregame begins at 2:30, with game time at 3:10 this afternoon. You can hear the broadcast from the Royals’ Radio Network on KMMO AM 1300.