Kendrys Morales hits 3 home runs, Royals inch closer to division title

Kansas City Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales hit three home runs and set a franchise record with 15 total bases in Sunday afternoon's 10-3 win over the Detroit Tigers, moving Kansas City closer to its first division title in 30 years.

The Royals lost Billy Butler to free agency over the winter, and replaced him at DH with the cheaper, albeit older Morales, signing the switch hitter to a two-year, $17 million deal. Morales has worked out like gangbusters so far, hitting .293/.355/.490 with 21 home runs, 41 doubles and 105 RBI, including Sunday's banner day.

Morales walked in the first inning, then homered to lead off the third inning against Alfredo Simon. Morales hit another solo home run off Simon in the fourth inning, then led off the sixth with a triple, his second of the season and just the sixth in his nine-year career. Morales finished off his day with another solo home run to start the eighth inning, against relief pitcher Jeff Ferrell.

Once, twice, thrice. Kendrys Morales has @Royals’ first 3-HR game since 1991: http://t.co/d94OgY2hy8 #ThrillOfTheGame pic.twitter.com/lz7gKpy71k

— MLB (@MLB) September 20, 2015

The 15 total bases set a new Royals record, previously held by Hall of Famer George Brett, who had 14 total bases on May 28, 1979 against the Baltimore Orioles.

Morales is the first Royals player with three home runs in a game since Danny Tartabull on July 6, 1991 against the Oakland Athletics.

Morales scored five runs to set a new career high, falling one shy of another Royals record. Joe Randa scored six runs in a game on Sept. 9, 2004 against the Tigers. Morales was left in the on-deck circle in the ninth inning, denied a chance at a sixth plate appearance.

The victory helped the Royals, who entered Sunday with the largest division lead in baseball, 11.5 games over the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central, lower their magic number to clinch the division down to just three.

Kansas City, who made the postseason as a wild card team in 2014, last won a division title in 1985, winning the American League West for the sixth time in a 10-year span en route to the franchise's only World Series title.