MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Torii Hunter hit a three-run homer off Shane Loux in the first inning Tuesday night, one of 11 extra-base hits for the Minnesota Twins, who cruised to an 11-4 rout of the Detroit Tigers.
Loux (0-1), a second-round selection by Detroit in the 1997 draft, made his major league debut and immediately got into trouble when Cristian Guzman and Corey Koskie each singled with one out.
Loux recovered to strike out David Ortiz but Hunter hit his next offering over the wall in left-center field for a 3-0 Minnesota lead. The Twins added three runs in the fourth inning for a 6-2 advantage.
Doug Mientkiewicz doubled with two outs and scored on a single by Dustan Mohr. A.J. Pierzynski followed with a triple and Pierzynski scored on an errant relay throw by Tigers second baseman Damion Easley.
Minnesota reduced its magic number for clinching the American League Central division to five and improved to 40-19 against Central division foes. The 11 extra-base hits, which included seven doubles, were a season high and one short of the club record.
Pierzynski's triple in the fourth inning gave him six for the year, a team record for catchers.
Twins starter Kyle Lohse (12-8) allowed four runs and nine hits while striking out seven in five innings. Three relievers combined to allow a pair of hits over the final four innings.
Detroit, which lost its sixth straight game against Minnesota, has dropped 11 of its last 13 games overall.
The Twins' bullpen has not allowed a run in its last 8 1/3 innings.
