DETROIT (AP) -- James McCann capped a six-run first inning with his first career grand slam as the Detroit Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros with an 11-0 rout Sunday.
Miguel Cabrera homered twice for the Tigers.
The Tigers, who began the day one game behind Boston for the second American League wild-card spot, have now won six straight -- including a sweep at Fenway Park. The win extended Detroit's lead over Houston to 1 1/2 games.
Mike Pelfrey (4-9) got the win, pitching five shutout innings and allowed four hits and a walk, striking out four. He has now allowed one or fewer runs in five of his last eight starts.
Dallas Keuchel (6-11) took the loss, allowing seven runs and seven hits in five innings, walking three and striking out four.
Two days after scoring nine runs in the first two innings off Collin McHugh, the Tigers were all over Keuchel. Seven of the first eight batters reached base, capped off by McCann's grand slam to make it 6-0. Only Cameron Maybin getting thrown out on the bases kept the defending Cy Young winner from giving up more runs in the inning.
The Astros loaded the bases in the third, but Pelfrey got out of the jam by retiring Carlos Correa on a broken-bat grounder to third. Houston had them loaded again in the seventh, but Bruce Rondon struck out Correa.
Cabrera made it 7-0 with a fifth-inning homer off Keuchel, and Mike Aviles added an eighth run in the next inning. He doubled off Scott Feldman and scored on Jose Iglesias's one-out sacrifice fly.
Cabrera got the lead to double figures with a two-run homer in the seventh off Feldman, and Justin Upton added a solo shot later in the inning.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: 1B Marwin Gonzalez (hand) and OF Carlos Gomez (hamstring) were both out of the starting lineup, leaving OF Jake Marisnick as the only healthy position player on Houston's bench. Gonzalez, who got hurt Friday night, is scheduled to see a hand specialist on Monday.
Tigers: OF J.D. Martinez (elbow) went 2 for 5 for Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, and is now hitting .350 after four games of a rehab assignment. He still hasn't played the field, but the Tigers are hoping to have him back by week's end.
OLD FRIENDS
McCann's first-inning homer was the first grand slam of his career and the 15th home run. Not only did the grand slam come against Keuchel -- his college teammate at Arkansas -- he has also homered twice against Drew Smyly, who also played with them with the Razorbacks.
FIRST HIT
Houston rookie Alex Bregman got his first career hit in the third inning, ending an 0-for-18 start. Cabrera called for the ball and ceremoniously presented it to Bregman, who tossed it to the Astros dugout.
UP NEXT
Astros: Return home for the first of four games with Toronto. The Astros may have to start rookie Joe Musgrove, because scheduled starter Doug Fister is with his wife, who is about to give birth to the couple's first child. The Blue Jays haven't announced their rotation for the series.
Tigers: Off Monday before hosting the White Sox for three games. Anibal Sanchez (5-11, 6.56) is scheduled to start the opener against James Shields (5-12, 4.68).
