DETROIT ? Jose Lima spent almost as long signing autographs Wednesday night as he did pitching.

In the fastest nine-inning game in the major leagues since 1984 only 1 hour, 41 minutes Lima pitched Detroit over the Kansas City Royals 3-0, then spent 45 minutes signing for young fans near the Tigers dugout.

Detroit starter Jose Lima, right, gets a congratulatory pat on the cheek from closer Juan Acevedo. The Tigers beat the Royals, 3-0, on Wednesday in Detroit.

“I wanted to thank all of these people who stuck with me when I wasn’t pitching,” Lima said. “I think the home plate umpire might have had a date tonight, because he had a big zone. I don’t have a date, but I might be able to get one after this.”

It was the fastest nine-inning game since Atlanta beat visiting San Diego 4-3 in 1:39 on Sept. 30, 1984, the final day of the regular season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, baseball’s statistician.

“1:41 is amazing,” said Royals manager Tony Pena. “I certainly don’t remember playing in a game that fast.”

Lima (2-4), back in the rotation following this week’s trade of Brian Moehler to Cincinnati, allowed two hits in seven innings to win for the first time since April 16. Lima gave up singles to Neifi Perez in the third and fifth innings, struck out five and walked one. He had pitched only 19 1-3 innings since April 21, and was making just his second start in three months.

“Early in the season, I was hurt I had no arm strength at all,” he said. “But I never complained, and I kept working hard. Whenever they have called my name, I’ve been ready. I don’t know if I’ll keep starting now or go back to the bullpen, but I’ll be ready. This is my last chance to show people I can still pitch.”

Oscar Henriquez and Juan Acevedo pitched one inning each, with Acevedo completing the three-hitter for his 17th save in 20 chances.

“We got some bad news before the game when we had to put Ramon Santiago on the disabled list, but this was good,” Tigers manager Luis Pujols said. “We’ve got the type of team that has guys who will pick each other up when something goes wrong.”

Paul Byrd (13-7) failed to tie Barry Zito for the AL lead in wins, giving up all three runs and six hits in eight innings. He struck out six and walked none, throwing just 83 pitches in his fourth complete game of the year.

“You just have to tip your hat to Jose Lima,” Byrd said. “He hasn’t been pitching every day and he threw a great game. They hit some balls that found some holes and we didn’t, but give him all the credit.”

The two teams combined to throw only 183 pitches.

“I might have played in a couple games that just were just under two hours, but nothing like that,” said Tigers catcher Matt Walbeck. “Jose was in a great rhythm and so was Paul Byrd. Everyone in the ballpark knew we were flying along, and we just wanted to keep it going.”

Randall Simon put the Tigers ahead in the second with his 12th home run, a drive off the right-field foul pole. Simon is 9-18 in his career against Byrd with two homers.

“The pitch was right where I wanted it and he hit it out,” Byrd said. “I don’t know how to get him out.”

Detroit put runners at second and third with one out in the third, but Damion Easley popped out to the catcher and Bobby Higginson took a called third strike.

Shane Halter hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh and Craig Paquette followed with an RBI single.

Notes: Previously, the fastest game this year was 1:49, between St. Louis and the Chicago Cubs on June 21. … Kansas City put 1B Mike Sweeney (stiff back) on the disabled list, a move retroactive to July 14, and recalled 1B Chan Perry from Omaha of the Pacific Coast League. … Detroit placed SS Santiago (injured wrist) on the DL and recalled OF Craig Monroe from Toledo of the International League.