Kansas City, Mo. ? Justin Verlander always seems to get it together to face the Kansas City Royals.

Verlander bounced back from his worst outing of the season to pitch seven-plus innings, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Royals, 6-3, for their fifth straight victory.

Consistently in the 90s and sometimes reaching 100 mph with his fastball, the hard-throwing Verlander (2-1) gave up seven hits and two runs. He struck out three and walked one. He lasted only three innings in his previous start, giving up five runs in a loss to Minnesota.

In six career starts against the Royals, Verlander is 5-0 with a 1.58 earned-run average. In Kauffman Stadium, he’s 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA.

“They just happen to have caught me on some good days,” Verlander said. “I’ve had some good stuff going against them several times.”

Carlos Guillen, who had missed two starts with a sore shoulder, was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and scored a run. Todd Jones worked the ninth for his league-leading 11th save in 13 chances.

Verlander went into the eighth with a shutout, but put two runners on with a single and a walk. Bobby Seay came in and gave up a one-out, two-run double to Mike Sweeney. Billy Butler, who had three hits, hit an RBI single off Jason Grilli before Fernando Rodney got Alex Gordon to ground out to end the threat.

“It’s just one of those things,” Verlander said of his success against Kansas City. “Sometimes certain pitchers match up against certain teams, but I don’t think that’s the case here. They’re a solid-swinging ballclub. I think it’s just that I’ve made some good pitches.”

Brian Bannister (0-2) lasted 42â3 innings and was charged with four runs – two earned – and eight hits with two walks. He struck out two.

“With Verlander pitching, it doesn’t change my pitch. But I just know I have to keep us close when the guy is throwing 100 mph and he’s feeling good that day,” Bannister said.