DETROIT -- Justin Verlander has spent all season trying to recapture the form that made him perhaps the best pitcher in baseball in 2011 and 2012. Now, with another post-season berth in sight, the Detroit right-hander hopes hes finally turning a corner. "It seems like the whole year has been tinkering," Verlander said. "I feel like the last three starts, Ive found what I really need to be working on and focusing on." Verlander pitched effectively into the seventh inning and Prince Fielder homered and drove in three runs to lift the Tigers to a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night. Detroit remained six games ahead of second-place Cleveland in the AL Central and dealt the third-place Royals a setback in the post-season race. Kansas City is one of several teams hoping at least to catch Tampa Bay for a wild card. Verlander (13-11) allowed three runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings. Three relievers finished. Joaquin Benoit worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and got the final four outs for his 19th save in 19 chances. Bruce Chen (7-3) allowed five earned runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings. "They had a really good plan going in. They were hacking early," Chen said. "They prepared themselves really well." The Royals, who are trying to make the playoffs for the first time since winning the World Series in 1985, fell 3 1/2 games behind the Rays after this series against the leaders in Kansas Citys division did not start well. Kansas City fell behind 6-1 in the fifth, and although the Royals rallied, Detroits bullpen was able to hold on. With the score 6-3, Detroits Drew Smyly issued a one-out walk to Eric Hosmer in the eighth, then Jose Veras came on and walked Billy Butler on four pitches. After taking ball one, Salvador Perez popped out, but Veras hit Mike Moustakas to load the bases. On came Benoit, who has been excellent since becoming Detroits full-time closer. He struck out David Lough to end the threat. Kansas City left fielder Alex Gordon overran Austin Jacksons leadoff double in the Detroit first for an error, allowing Jackson to advance to third. He scored on Torii Hunters groundout to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Kansas City tied it in the fourth on an RBI single by Perez, but Fielders flyball in the bottom of the inning barely cleared the wall in the right-field corner for a two-run shot. It was his 24th homer of the year. Like Verlander, Fielder has had his struggles this season, but he now has 102 RBIs, the sixth time in seven years hes reached 100. "If Im healthy and can play every day, thats what Im really focused on," Fielder said. "When youre out there every day, youve got a chance to do all those things." The tiebreaking home run came after banged-up slugger Miguel Cabrera led off with a double to right-centre that Lough just missed making a sliding catch on. It was Cabreras first extra-base hit since Aug. 26. Detroit added three runs in the fifth. Hunter hit a two-run single, and after an intentional walk to Cabrera, Hunter caught the Royals napping and broke for third. Chen was called for a balk, giving Hunter third and Cabrera second, and Fielders RBI single made it 6-1. Verlander has pitched well in 2013, just not up to the terrific standard he set the previous two years. The Tigers are hoping the right-hander will find a groove late this season, and he was breezing along until the Royals rallied with a couple runs in the sixth. Butlers RBI single made it 6-2, and Perez drove in Butler with a double. But Verlander was happy overall after striking out seven without a walk. "I feel like Im pretty doggone close," said Verlander, whose ERA is at 3.66. "I think my stuffs been a lot better. Tonight I made a little bit of an adjustment with my grip on my curveball and that seemed to be working really well for me." NOTES: Cabrera has been bothered lately by a strained abdomen, among other nagging injuries. Detroit manager Jim Leyland said before the game his third baseman looks better now. ... The Tigers sent RHP David Paulino to Houston as the player to be named in the deal that brought Veras to Detroit in July. ... Butler went 2 for 3 off Verlander and is now 30 for 68 (.441) off the Detroit star. ... Kansas Citys bullpen retired all 11 batters it faced, including seven strikeouts. ... Detroit RHP Doug Fister (12-8) faces Kansas City RHP Ervin Santana (8-9) on Saturday night. Stefan Savic Jersey . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. Gabi Jersey . He just needed to be his best twisting, turning acrobatic self. "I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. [url=http://www.at