Tigers 2, Royals 1: Anibal Sanchez tossed seven strong innings and Austin Jackson had three hits as visiting Detroit edged Kansas City to extend its winning streak to four games.

Sanchez (6-3) allowed one run on eight hits with no walks and Joe Nathan worked around two runners in the ninth for his 19th save in 24 opportunities. Detroit won its fifth straight in Kansas City and increased its American League Central lead to 6 1/2 games over the Royals, who lost for the fifth time in their last seven games.

The Tigers took an early lead as Jackson doubled to begin the game and Ian Kinsler followed with a run-scoring single off Danny Duffy (5-9), who yielded two runs (one earned) while striking out six over six frames. Duffy lost his second straight start for the Royals, who fell to 13-32 when the opponent scores first.

Kansas City pulled even in the bottom half as Eric Hosmer extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a two-out double and scored on Salvador Perez’s RBI single to shallow center field. The Tigers moved ahead in the third when Rajai Davis and Jackson opened with back-to-back singles and Davis scored on Miguel Cabrera’s sacrifice fly.

Kansas City threatened in the eighth as Norichika Aoki greeted Joba Chamberlain with a leadoff single, but Lorenzo Cain was called out on batter’s interference when he stepped in front of catcher Bryan Holaday on Aoki’s steal attempt. The Royals, who were 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, still had two on and one out before Chamberlain retired Perez and Billy Butler to end the inning.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Kinsler was named to the American League All-Star team as a replacement for injured teammate Victor Martinez, who missed his fifth straight game with a strain in his lower right side. … The Royals activated Aoki from the 15-day disabled list before the game and optioned INF Christian Colon to Triple-A Omaha. … Tigers RF J.D. Martinez went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, snapping his nine-game hitting streak.