DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers' offensive struggles have been well-documented this month, especially after the team managed to score just two runs off of Ricky Nolasco in a loss Wednesday night.
But the Tigers exploded out of their slump in the rubber match against the Twins Thursday, scoring five runs off of starter Mike Pelfrey and winning by a final score of 13-1.
Recommended Videos
Miguel Cabrera got the ball rolling in the very first inning, singling home Anthony Gose and later scoring on a Yoenis Cespedes sacrifice fly. Rajai Davis brought home J.D. Martinez with a double to make it 3-0 in the 1st.
The Tigers added another run in the 3rd on an RBI groundout from Jose Iglesisas. Minnesota got on the board shortly afterwards with an RBI single from Eduardo Escobar in the top of the 4th.
Nick Castellanos hit his 3rd home run of the season in the 5th, growing the Tigers' lead to 5-1. His blast kicked off a home run parade in the late innings as the Tigers opened the flood gates against the Twins bullpen.
Cabrera got in on the fun in the 6th inning, scoring Ian Kinsler with a two-run shot to left. Then, after back-to-back triples to left center from Gose and Kinsler in the 7th, Cabrera hit his second bomb of the game, this one to right field, to make it 11-1.
To cap it off, Bryan Holaday hit his first homer since 2013 in the 8th, a two-run shot to left field. Holaday went 3-5 with a double, a home run and three RBI in his first game of the season.
Anibal Sanchez rolled behind the offensive onslaught, throwing eight one-run innings and striking out nine Twins. He allowed just five hits and one walk and earned his third win of the season.
With the victory, Detroit won its first series since April 29 in Minnesota. The Tigers will now head to St. Louis for a weekend series against the Cardinals.