Soler leads Royals past Tigers, 10-2

It was a home run derby in Detroit on Sunday afternoon, but behind one of the league’s best power hitters, the Royals earned a 10-2 win to salvage a split in the four-game series.

Jorge Soler and Hunter Dozier each hit two home runs, and Whit Merrifield added a fifth, to pilot the Royals to a victory.

Merrifield led off the game with his 14th homer of the year. Dozier hit his 21st later in the frame. Detroit hit a solo homer of their own to make it 2-1, but Soler cranked a two-run bomb in the third to push Kansas City’s lead out to 4-1.

Following a Tigers run, Dozier and Soler went back-to-back in the eighth inning to make it 6-2.

The Royals added four runs in the ninth inning on RBI hits by Merrifield and Soler. Merrifield, Dozier and Soler drove in all 10 runs on the day.

Soler is up to 35 homers and 87 RBI. He already has seven home runs in the month of August, and barring an injury, he appears to be a lock to break Mike Moustakas’ team record of 38. The Royals’ first 40 homer season might finally be inevitable.

Jake Junis pitched well, logging a quality start after allowing two runs in six innings pitched. He struck out six and walked none, needing 85 pitches to get through his six innings of work. He is 8-10 on the year.

The Royals are 43-76. They next come home for a week of interleague games, beginning with a two-game set with St. Louis. Glenn Sparkman gets the start on Tuesday night at 7:15 pm.