Detroit ? Joakim Soria had already withstood his toughest test, striking out Miguel Cabrera with the bases loaded.

Compared to that, fielding Victor Martinez’s comebacker should have been fairly simple.

“I made the pitches that I needed, and I got the result I needed, and then I didn’t pick up the ball,” Soria said. “I probably make that play 95 times out of 100, but I thought he hit it harder than he did, and my body reacted the wrong way.”

Martinez’s grounder deflected off Soria for a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning, scoring two runs and lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

Martinez’s comebacker bounced off Soria and rolled to the area between first and second. With the second baseman playing way out in shallow right field, the Royals couldn’t retire Martinez, and two runners scored on the play.

“I’d rather give up a double up the gap than do that, because I had a chance to get us out of the inning, and I didn’t take it,” Soria said. “I made the pitches, but didn’t field my position.”

Detroit’s Tyler Collins hit a solo homer earlier in the inning off Luke Hochevar (1-2) to tie the game at 2. Ian Kinsler also homered for the Tigers.

Justin Verlander (9-6) allowed one earned run and four hits. Justin Wilson pitched the eighth and Francisco Rodriguez finished for his 25th save in 27 chances.

Collins was called up from the minors before the game to replace Justin Upton, who was put on the bereavement list. Collins was 2 for 22 with Detroit this season before his seventh-inning homer tied the game. After consecutive singles by Jose Iglesias and Kinsler, Soria came on and walked Cameron Maybin to load the bases with one out.

After falling behind 3-0 on Cabrera, Soria recovered to strike out the Detroit slugger, but Martinez followed with his grounder that turned into a two-run single.

Verlander struck out the side in the first, and Kinsler led off the bottom half with a homer, but Detroit couldn’t add to that lead. With men on first and second in the sixth, Kansas City’s Salvador Perez lifted a deep drive to right that Steven Moya couldn’t handle. Perez ended up with an RBI double, and another run came home on the play thanks to a throwing error by Kinsler.

Kansas City starter Ian Kennedy allowed a run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three.

Respect

Royals manager Ned Yost, who was the American League skipper at the All-Star Game, talked a bit about Cabrera’s gesture in Tuesday’s game in which he insisted Kansas City’s Eric Hosmer get another at-bat to try to boost his MVP case. Cabrera didn’t replace Hosmer until the seventh inning of that game.

“What’s really unique about the All-Star Game for me is that you get 34 guys from different organizations that you’re screaming at and yelling at one day from across the field, but you walk into that clubhouse door and it’s amazing how they unite into a team for two days,” Yost said.

Return

The most memorable thing Collins did with the Tigers earlier this season was extend a middle finger toward booing home fans back in April. He heard plenty of cheers Friday. The homer was his first of the season for Detroit.

“It feels great, definitely,” Collins said. “It feels better to get the win.”

Trainer’s room

Royals: Yost said OF Lorenzo Cain (left hamstring) is probably at about 85 percent. Cain is eligible to come off the DL whenever the Royals feel he’s ready.

Tigers: Manager Brad Ausmus said LHP Daniel Norris (right oblique) was probably a couple of days away from a bullpen session. … RHP Jordan Zimmermann (neck) said he would probably do long-toss Saturday.

Up next

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (4-1) starts Saturday night against the Tigers. He has struck out at least seven hitters in four straight starts. The last Kansas City pitcher to do it in five straight starts was Zack Greinke, when he won the Cy Young Award in 2009.

Tigers: RHP Mike Pelfrey (2-8) tries for his third straight quality start.