Tigers’ 7-run frame earns series win over Twins

DETROIT — One night after the Tigers put up an eight-run opening inning and had to rally late, Miguel Cabrera’s first triple in 365 days sparked a seven-run seventh inning to lift Detroit to its third straight victory with a 7-2 win over the Twins on Tuesday night at Comerica Park.

Phil Hughes, who outpitched former Twins teammate Mike Pelfrey in an unlikely pitching duel, exited with a 2-1 lead after Cabrera tripled and scored on a Victor Martinez sacrifice fly. The Tigers pounced on Minnesota’s bullpen for seven hits in the next eight batters, including back-to-back home runs from Ian Kinsler and J.D. Martinez.

“That inning was the whole game,” said Nick Castellanos, whose bloop single off reliever Michael Tonkin continued the rally.

Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano hit solo home runs off Pelfrey, who delivered 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball for the second consecutive start. Jose Iglesias pulled the Tigers ahead for good with a two-run single off Trevor May’s first pitch.

“It’s just not getting the ball where you want to get the ball,” said Twins manager Paul Molitor, “and these guys do damage in a hurry.”

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDUpton erupts: Justin Upton entered Tuesday in a 5-for-41, 22-strikeout slump over his previous 11 games, and was robbed on a highlight catch from Danny Santana in the fifth. Upton’s drive to deep left-center would’ve earned him the game-tying RBI had it not bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double. Still, it put runners at second and third for Cameron Maybin’s game-tying single and Iglesias’ go-ahead hit.

“He’s looked a lot better the last week, I think,” bench coach Gene …

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