DETROIT — Three takeaways from the Royals’ 15-3 win over the Tigers on Saturday at Comerica Park. The 15 runs were a season-high.

Quick start always helps

Coming into the game, the Royals were tied for sixth in the Majors in scoring runs in the first inning with 22. They likely climbed a few spots when they scored four in the first against Tyson Ross.

With one out, Alex Gordon launched his sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left. Jorge Soler added an RBI double and Ryan O’Hearn had an RBI single.

“Always important to set the tone,” manager Ned Yost said. “But in games like this you still have to tack on runs and we did.”

Added Gordon, “I think it speaks to the guys up top like Whit [Merrifield] and Adalberto [Mondesi]. If they get on and swing the bats well, you’re going to produce early in games.”

The extra-base parade in 2019

The Royals’ record for extra-base hits in the first 34 games is 119, set in 1982. And they nearly tied it by mashing eight on Saturday, bringing their total to 116.

“Just so many good at-bats,” Yost said. “Lot of good stuff going on out there.”

The top of the order did much of the damage:

• Whit Merrifield led off the game with a double, then hit his fifth home run of the season in the fifth
• Adalberto Mondesi hit his Major League-leading sixth triple and doubled as well
• Gordon homered (and had five RBIs)

Soler, O’Hearn and rookie Kelvin Gutierrez each had doubles, and Gutierrez registered his first career four-hit game, the first Royals rookie with a four-hit game since Christian Colon in 2015.

“I really don’t remember when the last time I did that anywhere,” Gutierrez said.

And how is Gutierrez enjoying so much success (now hitting .344) after just eight games in the big leagues?

“I’m really not nervous,” he said. “My teammates told me it’s still the same game up here so go out and have fun.”

Bailey serviceable

Royals right-hander Homer Bailey was the beneficiary of the big offensive night. And while Bailey clearly didn’t have his best stuff or his best command, he labored through six innings.

But after walking two hitters in the first two innings, Bailey did what veteran pitchers do with a big lead — threw strikes and made the opponent hit its way back.

Bailey’s only big mistake was a 3-1 fastball to Jeimer Candelario in the third that Candelario belted for a two-run homer.

Bailey gave up seven hits and two runs, and struck out four, picking up his third win this season.

“Why are you talking to me?” Bailey said, smiling. “We put up [15] runs today. The credit goes to the offense … give them some love.”