Tigers 11, Nationals 1: Torii Hunter had three RBIs and four hits – including a home run during a five-run second inning – as Detroit completed a two-game home sweep of Washington.

Alex Avila also went deep for the Tigers, who saw each of their starters record at least one hit. Justin Verlander (11-8) matched a season high with five walks, but held the Nationals to one run and four hits over six frames.

Gio Gonzalez (7-4) was pounded for a season-high 10 runs and a career-high 11 hits over a season-low 3 1/3 innings, taking his first loss since May 27. Denard Span and Bryce Harper had two singles apiece to account for Washington’s only hits off Verlander.

After Jayson Werth plated the Nationals’ only run with a first-inning sacrifice fly, Ramon Santiago ignited the first of two five-run frames in the second with a two-run double down the left field line. Avila followed with a two-run shot and Hunter capped the inning two batters later with his third homer over his last five games.

Detroit put the game away in the fourth with four consecutive one-out RBI singles to oust Gonzalez while Hernan Perez added another run-scoring single off reliever Ross Ohlendorf for a 10-1 lead. Hunter pushed across one more run in the seventh with his third extra-base hit of the game – an RBI double to deep right.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Detroit 3B Miguel Cabrera (abdominal strain) did not play Wednesday after appearing to aggravate the same injury Tuesday that sidelined him for four games last week. Santiago replaced him in the order and went 1-for-2 with two RBIs. … Gonzalez surrendered 10 or more runs in an outing for the second time in his career (11 runs allowed against the Minnesota Twins on July 20, 2009 as a member of the Oakland Athletics). It also marked the third start in franchise history in which a pitcher gave up 10 or more earned runs in four of fewer innings, with two of those instances coming against the Tigers. … Detroit has won seven of the eight all-time meetings with the Washington franchise at home.