Detroit beats up on K.C., 19-4

Kansas City outfielders David DeJesus, left, and Joey Gathright talk in the outfield before a display of pitcher Jimmy Gobble during a pitching change in the seventh inning. The Royals fell to Detroit, 19-4, on Monday in Kansas City, Mo.

? After a slow start, Miguel Cabrera is hitting like the Detroit Tigers thought he would when they acquired him an offseason trade.

Cabrera matched his career high with five hits and six RBIs, and Matt Joyce added four hits and five RBIs as the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals, 19-4, on Monday night.

It was the third time this season that the Tigers scored 19 runs. The Boston Red Sox were the last team to accomplish that feat, scoring 19 or more four times in 1950, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Detroit beat Texas, 19-6, on April 23 and Minnesota, 19-3, on May 24.

“Cabrera had a huge night, as did a bunch of other guys,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “When his concentration is locked in, he’s going to hit big-time. When he’s locked in, he’s pretty impressive.”

Cabrera has 31 RBIs in his past 35 games to up his season total to 67, putting him among the American League leaders.

“When you score runs and drive in runs, you win games,” Cabrera said.

Joyce hit a three-run homer in the third and had two singles in the Tigers’ 10-run eighth inning, which also included a Gary Sheffield three-run homer.