DETROIT, July 10 (UPI) — Miguel Cabrera touched off a Detroit homer barrage with a two-run shot in the first inning Saturday and the Tigers rolled to a 7-4 victory over Minnesota.
Alex Avila, Magglio Ordonez and Johnny Damon also homered for the Tigers, winners of five in a row.
All of the Detroit runs scored on home runs with Cabrera getting things started by delivering his 22nd of the season and running his hitting streak to a career-best 18 games.
Avila added a solo shot in the second, Ordonez hit one with the bases empty in the third and Damon produced a three-run blast in the fifth that gave Detroit a 7-3 lead.
Jeremy Bonderman (5-6) took advantage of the long ball display to get the victory. He gave up three runs on four hits over six innings. Jose Valverde threw a perfect ninth for his 19th save.
The Tigers have won 17 of their last 19 home games.
Nick Blackburn (7-7) allowed seven runs on seven hits in four-plus innings to take the loss. Minnesota has dropped six out of seven to fall four games behind the division-leading Tigers in the American League Central.