Detroit, MI – Max Scherzer spun six scoreless innings of one- hit ball and Miguel Cabrera homered in his return to the lineup, as the Detroit Tigers pounded the Philadelphia Phillies, 10-0, in the middle test of a three-game series at Comerica Park.
Scherzer (15-1), who celebrated his 29th birthday Saturday, struck out seven and didn't walk a batter en route to becoming the first 15-game winner in the majors.
"For us to get some runs for him early was nice," Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter said of Scherzer. "He's been pitching his butt off."
Cabrera had missed Detroit's last four games due to a sore left hip flexor muscle, but scorched a solo homer in his first at-bat and knocked in three runs overall to help the Tigers earn their sixth win in their last seven.
Matt Tuiasosopo smacked a three-run homer, while Victor Martinez collected three hits, two RBI, and a run scored for Detroit, which pounded out 15 hits.
Raul Valdes (1-1) was pushed into action after Philadelphia left-hander Cliff Lee was scratched from his scheduled start with a stiff neck. The spot start was a forgettable one for Valdes, who was tagged for nine runs on 12 hits over 3 2/3 frames to absorb the loss.
Darin Ruf doubled in the second for the lone hit off Scherzer, but the Phillies managed just one more hit the rest of the way in dropping their season-high seventh straight game.
Valdes retired the first two Tigers before running into Cabrera, who made his presence felt immediately with a towering blast to left for his 32nd homer.
Prince Fielder, Martinez and Jhonny Peralta followed with three consecutive singles to push another run across before Tuiasosopo cleared the bases with a three-run shot to center to extend the margin to 5-0.
"They dictated the game right from the start," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.
Detroit added to the lead in the second, as Alex Avila and Hunter each singled around an Austin Jackson line out.
Cabrera followed with a base hit to left to score Avila, and after Fielder fanned, Martinez laced a two-run single to center to push the lead to 8-0.
Cabrera plated another run in the fourth on an RBI groundout before Hunter's sacrifice fly in the fifth gave the Tigers a 10-0 cushion.
Game Notes
Cabrera was replaced by Ramon Santiago to start the fifth inning ... Valdes is the first Phillie to give up 9-plus runs and 12-plus hits in less than four innings since Mark Mimbs in 1996 ... The Phillies have scored just 10 runs during their season-high seven-game skid ... Detroit went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.
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