KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Ricky Bottalico can't tell you how it feels to lead his team in wins. It's never happened before.

``Hey, I was a catcher in high school and college,'' Bottalico said. ``I hardly pitched at all back then.''

But Bottalico (9-6), who has struggled this season as the Kansas City Royals' closer, could lead them this year not only in saves, but in victories. After Tuesday night's 7-6 win over the Detroit Tigers, he shares the team lead with Jeff Suppan.

``I'm still pulling for Suppan,'' said Bottalico, who got two outs in the ninth before Luis Ordaz singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the inning.

Bottalico (9-6) has blown seven of his 22 save opportunities this season, but his last two wins haven't come out of save situations. On Tuesday, he entered with one out in the ninth and the score tied at 6, retiring the only two batters he faced.

``I'm using my legs a lot more,'' he said. ``My dad said I wasn't using my legs enough.''

Johnny Damon led off the ninth with a triple down the right-field line off Willie Blair (10-6). Blair then fell behind Ordaz 3-0 before giving up the gave-winning hit on a 3-1 pitch.

``I was looking for a fastball, but he just kept throwing me slider, slider, slider,'' said Ordaz, inserted as a defensive replacement in the eighth. ``That 3-1 pitch was a good slider _ I was just able to get the bat on it and hit a line drive.''

Deivi Cruz, Bobby Higginson and Dean Palmer homered for the Tigers, who led 5-1 in the fifth inning before being undone by poor defense.

The Royals scored three unearned runs with help from three Detroit errors to tie the game.

``You can't make mistakes like that, especially in a situation like that,'' Tigers manager Phil Garner said. ``The pressure's on them, not on us.''

Carlos Beltran hit a two-run single in the sixth to cut the Tigers' lead to 5-3. One of the runs was unearned after Billy McMillon misplayed Jermaine Dye's single to right.

In the seventh, Detroit starter Brian Moehler left after issuing back-to-back walks to open the inning. First baseman Hal Morris threw Damon's sacrifice bunt away at third, allowing one run to score. Dave McCarty then tied it with a sacrifice fly.

``When I went out there in the seventh, I was really stiff, and I couldn't throw a strike,'' Moehler said. ``I had a hard time getting loose, and it cost us the game.''

After Cruz homered in the eighth to give the Tigers a 6-5 lead, the Royals tied it in the bottom half.

Joe Randa reached on Palmer's throwing error and moved to second when Beltran walked. After a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, Gregg Zaun hit a sacrifice fly to tie it.

Higginson's three-run homer with no outs gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Palmer added a two-run shot in the fifth for a 5-1 lead. Both homers came off Royals starter Mac Suzuki, who gave up five runs on six hits in five innings, walking two and striking out five.

Moehler gave up five runs _ three earned _ and eight hits in six-plus innings.

Notes: Detroit right fielder Juan Gonzalez will miss the remainder of the season with a herniated disk in his back. He had missed the previous five games with back spasms. ... Higginson's homer was his 29th, extending his career high. Palmer also has 29 homers, tying him with Higginson for the team lead. ... Royals shortstop Rey Sanchez was a late scratch from the lineup. He has been undergoing treatment for an ulcer and is listed as day-to-day. ... The Royals have given up 231 homers, most in the majors. ... George Brett's contract as a vice president for baseball operations of the Royals has been extended three years. Brett, elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999, began working in the Royals front office after he retired following the 1993 season.