Prince Fielder of the Detroit Tigers looks on as Miguel Cabrera celebrates a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning on August 15, 2012. / Hannah Foslien / Getty Images
(Detroit Free Press) - Miguel Cabrera was at it again Wednesday afternoon.
One day after eclipsing 100 RBIs for the fifth consecutive season with the Tigers, Cabrera hammered his 30th home run of the season, then drove in another RBI to seal a 5-1 series-clinching victory in Minnesota.
Cabrera became the only Tiger to hit 30 home runs in five consecutive seasons after taking the first pitch he saw Wednesday from Cole DeVries and driving it opposite-field.
That made it 1-0 in the first inning. Then Max Scherzer took it from there.
Scherzer picked up his 12th win of the season after tossing seven shutout innings. He gave up just four hits and two walks while striking out 10.
The Tigers improved to 63-55 and moved 1.5 games behind the White Sox, who play the Blue Jays at 7 tonight.
Delmon Young added a 2-run home run in the fourth inning, scoring Alex Avila and making it 3-0 Tigers. Cabrera and Omar Infante hit RBI singles in the fifth and eighth innings, respectively.
The lone Twins run came in the eighth inning, when Joe Mauer singled in Ben Revere after he tripled with one out off Octavio Dotel.
Joaquin Benoit, embattled of late after giving up 10 home runs since June 30, pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out two.
The Tigers open a 3-game weekend series at 7 p.m. Friday against the Orioles at Comerica Park. Justin Verlander (12-7) takes the mound against Tommy Hunter (4-7).
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