DETROIT | Tony PeA a's two-out RBI single in the 11th inning Monday afternoon lifted the Royals to a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers in the season opener for both clubs at Comerica Park.

The Royals overcame a 3-0 deficit against Tigers ace Justin Verlander in giving Trey Hillman a victory in his big-league managing debut.

PeA a's single came against ex-Royal Denny Bautista. It dropped into short center and allowed John Buck to score from second with the winning run.

Leo NuA ez got the victory after pitching two scoreless innings. Joakim Soria worked around a leadoff double by Clete Thomas and got the save. Third baseman Alex Gordon made a nice stop on Placido Polanco's hot two-out grounder for the final out. Read more