Tigers 6, Cubs 0
DETROIT -- Anibal Sanchez tossed 7 2/3 shutout innings and the Detroit Tigers backed him with 13 hits in a 6-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night at Comerica Park.
Sanchez (4-7) scattered six hits and struck out seven to record his first win since May 14. He was aided by his outfield defense, as center fielder Rajai Davis made a home-run saving catch and left fielder Yoenis Cespedes threw out a runner at home.
Reliever Joba Chamberlain struck out Chicago designated hitter Miguel Montero with the bases loaded in the eighth.
Davis also had two extra-base hits and scored twice for the Tigers (31-28), who have won three straight.
First baseman Miguel Cabrera, who has reached base safely in 27 consecutive games, smacked three singles and drove in a run. Second baseman Ian Kinsler contributed two hits and two RBI as every player in the Detroit lineup had at least one hit.
Cubs ace Jon Lester (4-5) failed to get out of the fifth inning, allowing five runs on nine hits while striking out five. Shortstop Starlin Castro had two hits for Chicago (30-26).
Davis scored the game's first run and stole two from the Cubs during the first two innings. He led off the bottom of the first with a double, advanced on a passed ball and scored on Cabrera's single, his 39th RBI of the season.
With one on and two outs in the top of the second, Davis robbed Cubs catcher David Ross with a leaping grab above the left-center-field wall.
Designated hitter Nick Castellanos made it 3-0 with a two-run single in the third that knocked in Cabrera and left fielder Yoenis Cespedes.
Davis' one-out triple sparked the Tigers' two-run fifth that gave Detroit a five-run lead. He scored on second baseman Ian Kinsler's double. Lester was removed after walking the next two batters, and right fielder J.D. Martinez followed with an RBI single off reliever Edwin Jackson.
NOTES: The Cubs signed 35-year-old RHP Rafael Soriano to a minor-league contract on Tuesday. Soriano saved 117 games over the past three seasons but lost his closer's role with the Washington Nationals last September. "We've just to get him ready to go and see how he fits in," manager Joe Maddon said. ... Tigers RHP Justin Verlander will make his first start of the season against Cleveland on Saturday, manager Brad Ausmus said. Verlander has been sidelined since the end of spring training with a right triceps strain. ... Detroit C Alex Avila, who has been on 15-day disabled list since May 8 with a loose body in his left knee, had an MRI after experiencing soreness during the team's trip to Chicago over the weekend. "It doesn't seem to be anything alarming at this point," Ausmus said. Avila's rehab program will be halted for the time being. ... The Cubs' last win at Detroit was July 7, 2001. They were swept in a three-game series during their last trip in 2009.