(Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals will try to post their fifth straight win over the Detroit Tigers tonight, as the two clubs resume a three- game series at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals, who are 1 1/2 games up on last-place Detroit in the American League Central, opened up the season with a three-game sweep of the Tigers from March 31-April 3 and then defeated them, 3-2, in Tuesday's opener.

The game was knotted at two until a costly Detroit error in the eighth. The Royals' Mark Teahen laced a ball up the middle that Edgar Renteria tracked down. However, his flip attempt to get an out at second was off the mark, and Esteban German raced home to score the go-ahead run.

Joakim Soria then shut down the Tigers in the ninth to record his ninth save of the season. In 16 games and 15 1/3 innings so far this season, Soria has yet to allow a run while yielding just four hits and striking out 16.

Jose Guillen hit a two-run double in the third inning to erase a two-run deficit for the Royals, who have won two in a row following a three-game skid.

In six innings of work, Zack Greinke gave up two runs on nine hits in the no- decision, while Leo Nunez (3-0) threw two-thirds of an inning in relief to get the win and push the Royals to 3-5 on a 10-game homestand.

Nate Robertson allowed two runs on 10 hits in seven innings of work for Detroit, which has lost eight of 10. Francisco Cruceta (0-1) was credited with the loss after allowing an unearned run on two hits in the eighth inning.

Miguel Cabrera had two hits and two walks, while Matt Joyce hit a solo homer and Carlos Guillen hit an RBI double.

Struggling Detroit right-hander Justin Verlander has lost his last three starts, but has dominated the Royals over the course of his career. In nine career starts against Kansas City, Verlander is 6-0 with a shutout and 2.65 earned run average, and is 3-0 in four career starts at Kauffman Stadium with a 1.33 ERA.

Verlander got a no-decision against the Royals on March 31, allowing four runs on four hits over six innings while striking out a season-high six. Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer off the 2006 American League Rookie of the Year in a game KC went on to win 5-4.

While Billy Butler is 5-for-11 (.455) in his career against Verlander with a home run, Gordon and Guillen are a combined 4-for-29 (.138) against him with nine strikeouts.

The right-handed throwing Verlander is just 1-6 with a 6.43 ERA through eight starts this year and last toed the rubber on Thursday against Boston. He gave up five runs on a season-high nine hits in six innings of a 5-1 setback.

Luke Hochevar will try to bounce back from a loss tonight when he goes for the Royals. The 2006 top overall pick fell to 2-2 on the season with a 4.94 ERA after giving up four runs on five hits in seven innings on Thursday against Baltimore, striking out five. The big blow came in the third inning when he served up a three-run homer to the Orioles' Nick Markakis.

The right-hander faced Detroit once last year out of the bullpen, and allowed two runs (1 earned) on two hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. He also struck out three in the no-decision, as Verlander went on to win his 18th game of the 2007 season in that one.