Zach McKinstry fueled a four-run seventh inning as the Detroit Tigers rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals 7-5 in the series opener Friday night at Comerica Park. The Tigers (77-53) have won four straight and eight of their last nine.

Royals’ right-handed starter Ryan Bergert, who has held lefties to a .159 average in his short big-league time, had allowed just one hit to the Tigers’ lefties through 5.2 innings, and that was a solo homer by McKinstry (11) in the third inning.