Tigers 11, Astros 0: Offense blasts 4 home runs and Mike Pelfrey was pretty good

DETROIT — After a start in which the Tigers just barely scratched out three runs, the offense lit up Astros starter Dallas Keuchel and Houston pitching to the tune of 11 runs on 10 hits. With Mike Pelfrey’s surprisingly solid start and a dependable bullpen, the Tigers won 11-0 to sweep the Astros and bring Detroit’s win streak to six games.

If anything would’ve brought the Tigers’ winning streak grinding to a halt, it would’ve been Pelfrey. But in a shocking turn of events, the only digits on the Astros’ side of the scoreboard were zeroes. He got into a couple of binds — including a first pitch of the game double — but escaped lurking damage every time to finish with a clean start.

He was by no means perfect, but Pelfrey had a strong start rarely seen from his starts. Sure, it’s only five innings, but to get any stretch of innings where he doesn’t allow a run is a miracle in itself. He did his job well, allowing the Tigers’ offense to pile on the support. The defense also played well behind him to keep the Astros off the board when it looked like they might bust the game open.

It didn’t take long for Detroit to strike, either. Ian Kinsler drew a leadoff walk, which Cameron Maybin, Miguel Cabrera, and Victor Martinez followed with three straight singles and a run. After a single by Justin Upton and a walk to Mike Aviles loaded the bases, James McCann blasted a grand slam. Cabrera struck again in the fifth with a home run, and sent a second dinger deep in the seventh.

ROARS:

Mike Pelfrey (seriously): Went five innings and gave up zero (!!) runs on four hits, striking out four. H/t to Brad Ausmus for taking Pelfrey out of the game when he did, too. Typically he’s let the righty stay in too long and it’s come back to bite him, but he opted on the side of caution, and rightfully so.

James McCann: Still smashing left-handed pitching, he drove a 1-1 cutter into the visiting bullpen for a grand slam.

Miguel Cabrera: He knocked in the first run of the game on an RBI single in the first. Then, in the fifth, blasted an opposite field home run halfway up the right field seats. Aaand he homered to left-center in the seventh. He finished 3-for-4 with four RBI.

Justin Upton: Homered and finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

HISSES:

NONE.

STATS AND INFO:

• James McCann’s grand slam in the first inning marked the first one of his career, also giving him a career-high four RBI in a game.
• Miguel Cabrera’s home run was his 22nd of the season, and No. 430 for his career. That moves him past Adrian Beltre to take over No. 47 in MLB history.
• Cabrera’s second home run was career No. 431 and tied him with Cal Ripken, Jr. for No. 46 in MLB history, to tell you how his day went. It also marked the 37th multi-homer game of his career and his fourth this season. His last was on May 23 vs. the Phillies.
• McCann’s and Cabrera’s offensive contributions accounted for eight of the 11 runs by the Tigers’ offense.
• The Tigers are 8-2 in their last 10 games and are nine games over .500. They’ve won their last six straight games.

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