Miggy's 2 homers lead way for Tigers in rout

DETROIT -- The Tigers pounced all over the Twins with 20 hits and four homers, while right-hander Anibal Sanchez turned in a solid performance in a 13-1 win in Thursday afternoon's rubber game at Comerica Park. Miguel Cabrera led the way with a pair of two-run blasts and five RBIs.

"We've been kind of waiting for this. I think everybody has," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "Players, coaching staff, fans, I think everyone was kind of waiting for the offense to kind of break out a little bit, and I think we saw that today."

Twins right-hander Mike Pelfrey entered with a 2.62 ERA, but Cabrera got Detroit on the board in a hurry with an RBI single in the first. Yoenis Cespedes added a sacrifice fly and Rajai Davis connected on an RBI double for a three-run opening frame. Pelfrey (3-1) went on to give up five runs (four earned) on 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings in his worst outing of the year.

Sanchez (3-4) allowed just one run on five hits over eight innings to get the win. Sanchez improved to 2-1 with a 1.66 ERA in three starts against Minnesota this year, as he avenged a loss to the Twins and Pelfrey on April 28. He was backed by a massive game from Cabrera, who crushed a two-run homer off lefty Brian Duensing in the sixth, before connecting on a two-run shot to right off right-hander J.R. Graham in the seventh.

Video: MIN@DET: Miggy blasts two homers in win over Twins

Nick Castellanos and Bryan Holaday also hit home runs for the Tigers, while Anthony Gose had four hits.

"We didn't contain very well," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "We couldn't make that pitch to get through an at-bat or through an inning. It just seemed like the numbers kept going up."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Iglesias dazzles with double play: What looked like a first-inning jam for Sanchez became another defensive gem for Jose Iglesias. Detroit's acrobatic shortstop ranged up the middle for Kurt Suzuki's ground ball and shoveled the ball out of his glove on the other side of the bag to second baseman Ian Kinsler, who barehanded the ball and fired to first to finish the double play.

More >

Video: Must C Combo: Iglesias, Kinsler link up on great play

Pelfrey falls short of five: Pelfrey had been on a roll, posting a 1.84 ERA over his past five starts, but he struggled right from the start. The right-hander gave up three runs in the first inning and exited after just 4 2/3, marking his second-shortest start of the year. Pelfrey set a season high by giving up five runs, though one was unearned.

"As good as Anibal Sanchez was today, I didn't really give our team a chance, so it's a tough day and I'll take the blame for it," Pelfrey said.

Day-game Miggy: Cabrera entered Thursday with six home runs and a .460 average (29-for-63) in day games, compared with no homers and a 9-for-57 clip at night. He added two more in the sunshine Thursday, including a no-doubt drive into the left-field seats. Cabrera's third multi-homer game of the season put him at 398 home runs for his career, one shy of Andres Galarraga's record for Venezuelan-born players.

Video: MIN@DET: Escobar brings home Suzuki with a single

 Minnesota's offense kept quiet: The Twins didn't have many chances to rally against Sanchez, but they did have runners at the corners with one out in the fourth after a bloop RBI single from Eduardo Escobar made it a two-run game. But Kennys Vargas promptly grounded into a double play, and the Twins let the game get away from there with the bullpen faltering after Pelfrey's exit.

QUOTABLE
"There's stats for everything. I don't know what our record is this side of the Mississippi, but it's probably pretty good." -- Kinsler on the Tigers' offensive outbursts in day games

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Detroit has scored in double digits in three games this year, and all three have come against Minnesota. The Tigers are 7-2 against the Twins this year, outscoring them by a 56-23 margin.

REPLAY REVIEW
Tigers right fielder Davis made a catch on a sinking liner from Vargas that was ruled an out by first-base umpire Bill Welke. Molitor challenged the call on the field, but it was upheld, ending the top of the seventh inning.

Video: MIN@DET: Twins challenge Davis' catch, call stands

WHAT'S NEXT
Twins: Minnesota returns home to host the Rays for a three-game series at Target Field starting Friday night at 7:10 p.m. CT. Right-hander Phil Hughes has won his past two decisions after a slow start.

Tigers: Detroit will try to continue its offensive outburst in St. Louis, home of the team with baseball's best record and lowest ERA. Shane Greene takes the mound opposite Carlos Martinez in Friday night's series opener at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Watch every out-of-market regular season game live on MLB.TV.