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Verlander strong as Tigers down Twins

May 1, 2013 - 4:11 AM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Justin Verlander yielded just one run over seven innings as the Detroit Tigers cruised past the Minnesota Twins, 6-1, in the middle test of a three-game set at Comerica Park.

Verlander (3-2), who has been dealing with cracked skin on his right thumb, allowed just five hits and struck out eight to snap a two-start winless streak.

"I felt pretty good. I was able to establish my fastball early and work off of that," Verlander said.

The 2011 AL Cy Young Award winner completed the month of April with a slender 1.83 earned run average (8 ER/39 1/3 IP). Verlander fanned 41 batters and allowed just 36 hits over six starts in the month.

Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder both clubbed two-run homers and Alex Avila added a solo shot for the Tigers, who have won five straight.

"I think (Cabrera) is one of the best players in the league, if not the best, and (Fielder) is not far behind," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of Detroit's sluggers.

Wilkin Ramirez went 2-for-3 with an RBI double for the Twins, who have dropped five of their last seven games to fall one game below .500 (11-12).

Vance Worley (0-4) was saddled with the loss after allowing all six runs on 10 hits -- three homers -- over 4 2/3 innings. Worley hasn't picked up a win since Aug. 1 2012.

The Tigers wasted no time and jumped out to a two-run lead in the first. Torii Hunter doubled to left field and Cabrera followed with a line-drive homer over the right-field wall.

Minnesota made it 2-1 in the top of the second. Justin Morneau walked and moved to second on a Chris Parmelee base hit. Verlander was able to retire the next two hitters before giving up a double to Ramirez.

Avila's homer in the home half made it 3-1.

Detroit pushed three more across in the fifth inning to go up 6-1. Back-to- back singles from Omar Infante and Austin Jackson put runners on the corners with no outs. Hunter then grounded out to Pedro Florimon at shortstop, but Infante scored easily.

After Cabrera grounded into a fielder's choice, Fielder crushed his seventh homer of the season deep into the right-field seats.

Game Notes

Verlander is 14-7 over 25 career starts against the Twins ... The Tigers are 10-3 at home this season ... Fielder set a career-high for homers in April (seven). He's posted six home runs in April twice (2007 and 2011) ... Morneau has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games at Comerica Park.