Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Mike Aviles had three hits and drove in three runs and Jarrod Dyson added three hits, three runs scored and a run batted in as Kansas City held off a late charge to down Detroit, 9-6, in the middle meeting of a three-game set.
Billy Butler chipped in with three hits, a run and an RBI for the Royals, who have taken two of their last three games.
Chen (11-7) allowed three runs on four hits with a walk and one strikeout over six frames to win his third straight decision for the Royals, who have evenly split eight games at Comerica Park.
Armando Galarraga (4-7) suffered the loss after allowing five runs on nine hits and five walks while fanning four over 5 1/3 innings for the Tigers, who had a four-game win streak halted.
Greg Holland took the hill in the ninth with a seemingly comfortable 9-3 lead but could not finish the game. He allowed consecutive singles to Casper Wells, Jhonny Peralta, Will Rhymes and Brandon Inge that made it a 9-5 game.
Joakim Soria was called on to squash the rally and gave up a bunt base hit to Gerald Laird that loaded the bases. After Austin Jackson lined out for the second out, Wilson Betemit's fielding error allowed a run to score to trim the lead to three and bring the potential winning run to the plate.
Ryan Rayburn then grounded into a force out at second base to end the game as Soria earned his 40th save of the season.
Aviles greeted Robbie Weinhardt with a two-run single to center in the eighth that extended the visitors lead to 7-3 before Lucas May and Dyson provided the Royals' final runs with run-scoring hits in the ninth off Eddie Bonine.
Scott Sizemore started the home third with a single and would eventually score the first run of the game on Jackson's sacrifice fly.
Raburn and Miguel Cabrera belted back-to-back jacks leading off the fourth to push the Tigers advantage to three.
The Royals took the lead with four runs in the fifth with some help from the hosts.
A two-out single to center by Aviles drove in the first run. Kila Ka'aihue walked with the sacks full to force in another run before a Yuniesky Betancourt infield single drove in a run and a subsequent throwing error by Galarraga allowed Betemit to cross the plate with the go-ahead run.
Aviles' single to right with one out in the sixth sent Dyson to third and spelled the end of the night for Galarraga.
Billy Butler greeted Alfredo Figaro with a sacrifice fly to center that chased home Dyson to make it a 5-3 contest.
Chen improved to 2-1 in four starts against Detroit this season and won for the first time at Comerica Park...Butler has hit safely in seven straight during which he has 14 hits...Inge's single in the third inning was his first hit in 20 career at-bats against Chen...Meanwhile, Cabrera is 8-for-14 with three home runs against the veteran southpaw...Galarraga suffered his first career loss to the Royals in nine games, including eight starts.