Brennan Boesch came through too late for Rick Porcello. His hit came just in time for the Detroit Tigers, though.

Boesch hit a go-ahead RBI single in the 10th inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

“I just didn’t want to do too much,” Boesch said. “I just wanted to make sure I was under control and just try to play pepper back up the middle. I wanted to do that.”

The Tigers extended their lead in the AL Central to four games over the Cleveland Indians, who lost in extra innings around the same time the Tigers were winning.

Porcello, who had won his previous five starts, took a 3-0 lead into the seventh.

“Every time he goes out there now, we really feel we’re going to win,” Boesch said. “He’s really been pitching well. He’s been growing all season long, getting better as the year goes on. That’s what we need from him. He’s stepping up big.

Wilson Betemit led off the 10th with a walk and pinch-runner Andy Dirks took second on a wild pitch by Aaron Crow (3-3) with one out.

Daniel Schlereth (1-1) worked two scoreless innings and Jose Valverde pitched the bottom of the 10th for his 31st straight save.

Manager Jim Leyland pulled Porcello after he gave up a run on three singles with one out in the seventh.

“I feel bad for Rick,” Leyland said. “He deserved to get a win. He was fantastic. I’m sorry he didn’t get a win.”

Austin Jackson and Boesch opened the game with back-to-back triples in the Tigers’ two-run first inning. Alex Avila tacked on a solo homer in the fifth.

Johnny Giavotella made his debut for the Royals and hit an RBI single before scoring the tying run on Alcides Escobar’s single in the seventh.

Royals starter Felipe Paulino gave up three runs and six hits in 62/3 innings, striking out seven and walking two.

Rick Porcello had a string of wins in five straight starts snapped. He left with one out in the seventh after giving up Giavotella’s RBI single.

Phil Coke came on, gave up an RBI single to Mike Moustakas, and left. David Pauley gave up Escobar’s tying hit to center field.

“The team got the win and that’s the biggest thing,” Porcello said. “Obviously, it’s nice for yourself personally to get a win, but we got the win and started the series off to a good start. That’s the bottom line, the most important thing.”