SPORTSRoyals 12, Tigers 9Tigers manager Brad Ausmus heads out to the mound to take starting pitcher Matt Boyd out of the game in the first inning of the Tigers 12-9 loss to the Royals on Sept. 25, 2016.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers pitcher Matt Boyd works in the first inning. Boyd did not finish the first inning and did not record an out.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers pitcher Matt Boyd heads to the dugout in the first inning. In the stat books, Boyd did pitch no innings but he faced five batters and allowed four earned runs.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsFans and Tigers' Justin Upton watch a home run ball off the bat of Royals' Salvador Perez bounce out of the bullpen in the first inning to make it 4-0 Royals.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsRoyals' Alex Gordon, right, congratulates Salvador Perez and Kendrys Morales after Perez's two-run home run in the first inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers pitcher Matt Boyd in the dugout in the first inning. Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park in Detroit on Sept. 25, 2016. (Robin Buckson / Detroit News)Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers pitcher Blaine Hardy works in the first inning. Hardy pitched one inning with one walk.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera catches a pop out off the bay of Royals' Cheslor Cuthbert in the first inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsRoyals pitcher Edinson Volquez works in the second inning. Volquez pitched two and 2/3 innings allowing six hits with four earned runs, four walks and one strikeout.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez works in the third inning. Sanchez pitched two innings allowing four hits with three earned runs and three strikeouts.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez waits while Royals' Cheslor Cuthbert rounds the bases on his two-run home run in the third inning to make it 6-0 Royals.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers designated hitter Victor Martinez hits a grand slam in the third inning to make it 7-4 Royals.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers designated hitter Victor Martinez reacts going into the dugout after his grand slam in the third inning to make it 7-4 Royals.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Miguel Cabrera congratulates designated hitter Victor Martinez, left, after Martinez's grand slam in the third inning to make it 7-4 Royals.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers designated hitter Victor Martinez reacts after his grand slam in the third inning to make it 7-4 Royals.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers designated hitter Victor Martinez reacts with the crowd after his grand slam in the third inning to make it 7-4 Royals.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' J.D. Martinez slides into second on his double in the third inning. Martinez went 1-for-3.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsWith bases loaded, Andrew Romine bunts for the final out in the third inning Sunday.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsRoyals pitcher Peter Moylan shuffles the ball from his glove to home for the out on Tigers' Andrew Romine to end the third inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers pitcher Shane Greene works in the fourth inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsRoyals' Kendrys Morales heads home to score on a double by Alex Gordon to make it 9-4 Royals in the fourth inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers pitching coach Rich Dubee comes out to talk with Shane Greene, left, after the Royals add on a couple more runs in the fourth inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Ian Kinsler slams his bat on the dirt after he flies out in the fourth inning. Kinsler went went 3-for-6.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Cameron Maybin triples in the fourth inning. Maybin went 4-for-6.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Cameron Maybin heads for third on his triple in the fourth inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Miguel Cabrera grounds out and scores Cameron Maybin to make it 9-5 Royals in the fourth inning. Cabrera went 1-for-5.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers pitcher Mike Pelfrey works in the fifth inning. Pelfrey pitched two innings allowing three hits with two earned runs and three strikeouts.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsRoyals catcher Salvador Perez has 'RIP J.F.16' written on his chest protector, in memory of Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez who died in a boating accident.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers pitcher Mike Pelfrey watches Royals' Alex Gordon's home run ball in the sixth inning to make the score 11-6 Royals.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsRoyals' Paulo Orlando congratulates Ben Gordon after Gordon scores him on his two-run home run in the sixth inning to make it 11-5 Royals.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Miguel Cabrera singles in the sixth inning. Cabrera went 1-for-5.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsThe Mets offered outfielder Michael Conforto in exchange for Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez, but pulled the deal off the table, GM Al Avila says.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsWith bases loaded, Royals second baseman Raul Mondesi, left, avoids a collision with right fielder Paulo Orlando and catches a pop up by Tigers' J.D. Martinez to end the sixth inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Erick Aybar congratulates Justin Upton after Upton's solo home run in the seventh inning to make it 11-7 Royals.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsJustin Upton blasted 18 home runs in the team's final 38 games while batting .309 with a .765 slugging percentage.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsRoyals pitcher and former Tiger Joaqim Soria works in the seventh inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Ian Kinsler talks with home plate umpire Dan Iassongna after a called strike in the seventh inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann works in the eighth inning. Zimmermann pitched three innings allowing four hits with one earned run.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Ian Kinsler sits in the dugout in the eighth inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' J.D. Martinez hits a sacrifice fly to score Cameron Maybin in the eighth inning to make it 11-8 Royals.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' J.D. Martinez is congratulated after his sacrifice fly scores Cameron Maybin in the eighth inning to make it 11-8 Royals.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Justin Upton doubles in the eighth inning, moving Victor Martinez to third base.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Victor Martinez heads to third on a double by Justin Upton in the eighth inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Victor Martinez is congratulated after he scores on a wild pitch in the eighth inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers pitching coach Rich Dubee, left, talks with pitcher Jordan Zimmermann in the bottom of the eighth inning. Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park in Detroit on Sept. 25, 2016. Royals win, 12-9. (Robin Buckson / Detroit News)Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Miguel Cabrera throws some dirt after a sharp ground ball off the bat of Royals' Raul Mondesi gets past him to score a run in the ninth inning to make it 12-9 Royals.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Miguel Cabrera sits for a moment after a sharp ground ball off the bat of Royals' Raul Mondesi gets past him to score a run in the ninth inning to make it 12-9 Royals.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers pinch hitter Jose Iglesias doubles in the ninth inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Ian Kinsler singles in the ninth inning to put two men on base.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsHome plate umpire Dan Iassogna ejects Tigers' Cameron Maybin from the game in the bottom of the ninth inning.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers' Miguel Cabrera hits a line out to end the game.Robin Buckson, Detroit NewsTigers including Cameron Maybin, left, and Miguel Cabrera about to exit the dugout after the loss.Robin Buckson, Detroit News