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Detroit Tigers observations: Offense brilliant, Jordan Zimmermann pounded

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The forecast for Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium was hot.

At first pitch it was 89 degrees, with thick humidity and a warm breeze blowing out to left field. It was, in every sense of the phrase, hitting weather.

Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals hitters would not complain. Their pitchers, well …

Propelled by an explosive third inning and multiple add-on runs to follow, the Tigers out-slugged the Royals, 12-8, avoiding a second-half opening sweep.

In the third, facing left-hander Brian Flynn — who was assigned to the late start after scheduled starter Homer Bailey was traded to Oakland — the Tigers put the first five men on base, Jeimer Candelario hit a three-run triple, Niko Goodrum hit an RBI single and Gordon Beckham hit a two-run home run.