Tigers 15, Cubs 8
CHICAGO -- Nick Castellanos hit two home runs -- including a third-inning grand slam -- to help lift the Detroit Tigers to a 15-8 victory over the Chicago Cubs and a two-game series sweep Wednesday.
The Tigers third baseman went 4-for-5 with five RBIs. Detroit starting pitcher Daniel Norris added a home run and reached base twice before departing in the fifth inning with an oblique injury.
Detroit right fielder J.D. Martinez clubbed his 32nd homer of the season in the ninth. Left fielder Rajai Davis also went deep for the Tigers.
Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant had a career-high four hits, including a two-run homer. Center fielder Dexter Fowler and left fielder Kyle Schwarber homered for Chicago, too.
The Tigers and Cubs combined for eight home runs and 32 hits on Wednesday after they combined for five homers and 30 hits Tuesday in a 10-8 Detroit victory.
The Tigers (58-61) made it three wins in their past four games. The Cubs (67-51) took their third consecutive loss.
Cubs left-handed starter Jon Lester (8-9) took the loss in a 2 2/3-inning outing. Norris departed in the fifth and did not get a decision.
Tigers right-handed reliever Neftali Feliz (3-3) worked the final 1 1/3 innings for the win.
In the second inning, Castellanos gave Detroit a 1-0 edge with a leadoff home run to right.
Norris, who broke a panel on a Cubs video board with a home run swat during batting practice, hit the real thing in the second inning. His two-run shot to right in his first major league at-bat drove in center fielder Anthony Gose and opened a 3-0 lead. Norris became the first pitcher in four years to homer in his first big league plate appearance.
Castellanos made it 7-0 with a first-pitch grand slam to left with no outs in the third. His second homer of the game brought home second baseman Ian Kinsler, first baseman Miguel Cabrera and right fielder J.D. Martinez.
It was the second grand slam of Castellanos' career.
Lester allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks. He struck out four.
The Cubs broke the shutout with three runs in the third on two home runs off Norris.
Fowler (three hits) homered to right for his 13th of the season, matching a career high reached with the Colorado Rockies in 2012. Bryant then launched his 17th homer to left with two outs, scoring Schwarber to trim the Tigers' lead to 7-3.
Norris departed with one out and one runner on in the fifth due to a strained right oblique muscle. He was replaced by left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, who walked the next two batters to load the bases with one out.
Gorzelanny left after getting Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo on a popup for the second out. Right-hander Al Alburquerque entered and got right fielder Jorge Soler to pop up in the infield to end the threat.
Norris allowed three runs on four hits while striking out six and walking one.
Davis slammed his fourth home run of the season to open the sixth. The solo shot gave Detroit an 8-3 lead.
NOTES: Detroit called up RHP Drew VerHagen from Triple-A Toledo for his second stint major league stint of the season. He was 3-3 with a 3.41 ERA in 34 1/3 innings between Toledo and Double-A Erie. The Tigers optioned INF Jefrey Marte to Toledo. ... Both the Tigers and Cubs wore 1945 throwback uniforms, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II as well as the last time they met in a World Series. ... Detroit returns home Thursday to open a four-game series with Texas. Rangers LHP Martin Perez (1-2, 5.29 ERA) goes against Tigers RHP Alfredo Simon (10-7, 4.84). ... The Cubs remain home and open a four-game series with the Braves on Thursday, when RHP Jake Arrieta (14-6, 2.39) faces Atlanta RHP Mike Foltynewicz (4-4, 5.61).