Maier sparks 7-run 5th to lead Royals over Tigers

Kansas City Royals' Mitch Maier triples to right field, with the bases loaded, to drive in Alex Gordon, John Buck and Tony Pena against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

DETROIT—Mitch Maier hit a bases-loaded triple in Kansas City's seven-run fifth inning and the Royals beat the slumping Detroit Tigers 10-4 on Wednesday night, completing a sweep of the three-game series.

Brian Bannister (9-16) pitched six shutout innings for the fourth-place Royals, bidding to avoid the AL Central basement for the first time in five seasons. Kansas City has won 11 of its last 13.

Nate Robertson (7-11) was charged with eight runs, seven earned, and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings for Detroit.

Placido Polanco hit a three-run homer and Mike Hessman added a solo shot for the Tigers, who have lost 12 of their last 13. Detroit, a popular preseason pick to win the AL pennant, is one game back of Kansas City and could finish last for the first time since 2003.

Tony Pena Jr. and John Buck each drove in two runs for Kansas City.

Pena and Buck both had bases-loaded walks and Guillen and Alex Gordon also drove in a run in the fifth before Maier's three-run triple.

Gordon went 2-for-4 and scored two runs for the Royals, who finished with 13 hits.

Hessman hit his fourth homer off Kip Wells in the seventh and Polanco's ninth-inning drive was against Ron Mahay.

Notes:@ Royals RF David DeJesus left with right hip flexor tightness after batting in the first inning. He's listed as day to day. His strikeout ended a 14-game hitting streak. ... Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski said manager Jim Leyland will coach the team next season, the final year of his contract. ... Detroit's Freddy Garcia will face his former team Monday afternoon if the Tigers have to travel to Chicago to play a makeup game to decide the AL Central title. The game was rained out Sept. 12, but might be necessary if the Twins and White Sox end the season close enough to require the full season to be played. ... The Royals' 16 September wins are their most since the club went 15-13 in 1987. ... Detroit went 27-44 against the AL Central this season.