DETROIT — Chris Coghlan and Miguel Montero blasted three-run home runs and the Chicago Cubs scored a season high in runs to pound the Detroit Tigers 12-3 on Wednesday night at Comerica Park.
Coghlan, the Cubs’ left fielder, homered in the third while Montero, their catcher, capped a six-run seventh with his blast into the right-field stands. Jake Arrieta (6-4) recorded his team-high sixth win while allowing three runs in six innings and striking out eight.
Chicago’s previous season high was 11 runs in a 12-inning victory over Pittsburgh on May 15. Designated hitter Mike Baxter reached base four times and scored a career-high three runs, first baseman Anthony Rizzo contributed two hits and two RBIs and right fielder Chris Denorfia added two hits and an RBI.
Chicago (31-26) notched its first victory in Detroit since July 7, 2001 after five straight losses at Comerica.
Left fielder Yoenis Cespedes smashed a three-run homer in the sixth for Detroit (31-29). First baseman Miguel Cabrera went 0-for-3, ending his streak of reaching base safely at 27 games.
Detroit starter Shane Greene (4-6), who has lost his last four starts, gave up five runs on seven hits in three innings.
Second baseman Addison Russell’s two-out single knocked in the first Cubs’ run in the second and Coghlan’s eighth home run highlighted Chicago’s four-run third. With one out, Greene got into trouble by hitting third baseman Kris Bryant with a pitch and allowing catcher Miguel Montero’s single.
Coghlan then crushed Greene’s first offering deep into the right-field stands. Denorfia’s single after Baxter’s double made it 5-0.
Baxter scored an unearned run in the fifth with reliever Kyle Ryan on the mound. With Baxter at first and two down, Denorfia singled to center. The ball bounced past center fielder Anthony Gose, allowing Baxter to head home for a 6-0 lead.
The Tigers loaded the bases with one out in the fifth but Arrieta retired the next two batters on a short fly out and strikeout.
NOTES: Chicago had gone 37 games without getting shut out on the road until losing 6-0 to Detroit on Tuesday. … Detroit RHP Justin Verlander, who has been on the disabled list since late March with a right triceps strain, will make his first start Saturday against Cleveland. “It’s been a long road,” he said. “I’ve worked as hard as I can and gotten back about as soon as I can. I can take some solace in that.” … The Cubs have 15 one-run victories, the most in the majors. … The Cubs’ four-game series against Cincinnati, which begins Thursday, ends a stretch of 20 games against non-division opponents. … Detroit’s .631 winning percentage since 2006 in interleague play ranks second in the majors behind only Boston (.645). … Tigers DH Victor Martinez, who is on the disabled list with left knee inflammation, took batting practice for the second straight day. “Yesterday, he was really driving the ball. Today, he was good as well,” manager Brad Ausmus said. “He was hitting the ball with much more authority, and there was more distance.”