By EARL WATT

• Leader & Times

The defending champion Royals were on the ropes midway though the third inning Friday, and their 13-game winning streak was in jeopardy of being snapped.

But a flurry of runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings extended the Royals winning streak to 14 with a 12-9 come-from-behind win over the Tigers.

Edgar Aguilar took the mound for the Royals in his first-ever start. Aguilar gave up two runs in the first inning, but the Royals were able to tie the game by scoring two runs on a lanky, hard throwing right handed Zane Gooding in the bottom of the first.

The Tigers added another run in the top of the second and had a chance for more, but Aguilar was abel to pick two Tigers off when they strayed too far from first base.

Again, the Royals tied the game in the bottom of the second, but the Tigers appeared to blow the game open in the top of the third when Aguilar struggled to find the zone, and a number of walks and hits ended with a 9-3 lead for the Tigers.

The Royals cut the lead by scoring three in the third.

Lefty Matthew Hernandez relieved Aguilar and was able to get a double play to hold the Tigers scoreless in the fourth.

The Royals tied the game in the bottom of the inning and added three more runs while Hernandez was abel to prevent the Tigers from scoring in the final two innings, and the Royals extended their winning streak to 14 games with a 12-9 win.

The Royals have not lost since May of 2011.

Not only did Hernandez pitch three scoreless innings, he also went four-for-four form the plate with three doubles and a single.

“We lost our six oldest kids from last year’s team,” Royal coach Mark Brown said. “The new kids are listening and learning quickly. They have great effort and enthusiasm.”

The Royals were scheduled to play the A’s today, but due to the weather the game has been postponed.

Thursday, the White Sox will face the Rockies, and the Tigers will battle the Rockies Friday.