Boesch delivers winning run for Tigers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For the second time this week, the Tigers lost a three-run lead in the late innings, and then Brennan Boesch rescued them.

Boesch singled in pinch-runner Andy Dirks from second base with one out in the 10th inning Friday night. That broke the tie the Royals had created by scoring three runs off the unfortunate Rick Porcello in the seventh.

Jose Valverde pitched a perfect 10th, and the Tigers won, 4-3.

On Tuesday night, Joaquin Benoit gave up two homers in the eighth to Texas to lose a three-run lead. In the bottom of the inning, Boesch hit the winning homer through the rain.

"This is the most fun I've had playing baseball in a long, long time," Boesch said. "Playing for the division right now is very emotional, and it's very fun to play in these kind of games."

And referring to his late-game hits this week, Boesch said, "I've just been feeling real confident in those situations. You're not going to get it done every time, but it sure feels good when you do."

The first two batters of the Royals' seventh, Billy Butler and Eric Hosmer, hit balls that could have been the 12th and 13th ground-ball outs in a shutout performance by Porcello.