Kansas City's Brian Bannister throws against Detroit. K.C. won, 6-3, Tuesday in Kansas City, Mo. Story on page 5B.

Kansas City's Alex Gordon rips a three-run double against Detroit. The Royals defeated the Tigers, 6-3, on Tuesday night in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City, Mo. ? Needing a win to keep pace in the AL Central, the Detroit Tigers ran into a familiar nemesis: the Kansas City Royals.

Brian Bannister won for the sixth time in seven decisions, Alex Gordon hit a three-run double and the Royals beat the Tigers, 6-3, Tuesday night.

“We’ve got to pitch better,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “Our starting pitchers have to get on a roll. … I’m not worried about the standings. I’m only concerned about what our team does. I don’t worry about the schedule.”

Detroit dropped 31â2 games behind division-leading Cleveland, the Tigers’ biggest deficit in their division since before play on June 6. The lowly Royals are 5-8 against Detroit this season after taking three in a row from the Tigers on the final weekend of last season – costing Detroit first place and forcing the Tigers into the wild-card berth.

“I know what they are playing for,” Bannister said. “They going for first place or at least the wild card. They’ve got a lot on the line right now. I know that. They are putting their A lineup out there. I know they know Cleveland won tonight.”

Most of Detroit’s difficulties against Kansas City have been at Comerica Park: The Tigers had been 14-1 at Kauffman Stadium since the start of the 2006 season but have lost seven of their last 10 against Kansas City at home.

Nate Robertson (7-11) gave up six runs, six hits and four walks in 41â3 innings, his shortest outing since June 5. Robertson is 1-5 in his past eight starts.

Magglio Ordonez went 4-for-5 and is hitting .404 in August. Detroit, which outhit the Royals 16-6, stranded 13 runners, including 10 when Bannister was pitching. The Tigers grounded into two double plays went 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

“We got a lot of hits, and they got timely hits,” Leyland said. “We get 16 hits and didn’t take advantage of a lot of opportunities. When we get 16 hits, normally a couple go over the fence.”

Bannister (11-7) leads AL rookies with a 3.27 earned-run average, and his victories are the most by a Royals rookie starter since Kevin Appier won 12 games in 1990. Bannister gave up two runs and 11 hits in six innings, striking out five and walking one. He is 6-1 with a 2.31 ERA in his past eight starts.

“It had a playoff atmosphere,” Bannister said. “You could cut the tension with a knife. They forced my hand and put me in tough spots where for several innings I had to make do-or-die pitches. They are right up there with Boston, New York and Seattle as being the toughest lineups out there. They are just so well put together.”