Tigers 4, Royals 2: Rajai Davis and J.D. Martinez drove in two runs apiece as host Detroit defeated Kansas City to move into a virtual tie with the Royals atop the American League Central.

Max Scherzer (16-5) allowed one run and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings as the Tigers won their third straight game. Joe Nathan gave up two hits to start the ninth but struck out two and picked pinch runner Jarrod Dyson off second to record his 30th save.

Davis hit a two-run homer and Martinez hit a solo blast off Jason Vargas (11-8). The Kansas City left-hander allowed four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings as the Royals lost for the third time in four games.

Detroit held a 4-1 lead after Martinez smashed a one-out solo homer in the fifth. Kansas City cut its deficit to two on Lorenzo Cain’s infield out in the eighth and then was thwarted in the ninth when Nathan’s picked off Dyson for the inning’s second out.

Martinez hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning to put Detroit on the board and Davis smacked his blast to left in the second to make it 3-0. The Royals pushed across a run in the fifth on Omar Infante’s single but left the bases loaded as Salvador Perez lined out and Eric Hosmer struck out.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Royals LF Alex Gordon was 0-for-3 with two walks and is 2-for-21 over the last seven contests. … Martinez has hit 20 homers this season with five coming against Kansas City. … Perez was hitless in five at-bats and is 0-for-13 over the past three games.