Tigers 6, Athletics 2: Justin Verlander worked six scoreless innings and Miguel Cabrera drew closer to the American League Triple Crown with his 41st homer as host Detroit blanked Oakland.

Omar Infante doubled in a pair and scored during a three-run third inning and Jhonny Peralta added an RBI single for the Tigers, who pulled to within two games of Chicago in the American League Central. The White Sox fell 3-0 at Kansas City.

Brett Anderson (4-2) was forced out of the start in the third inning due to an oblique injury for the Athletics, who slipped behind Baltimore and into the second wild-card spot, 3 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels.

Verlander (15-8) needed 122 pitches to get through six frames but struck out five while walking three and scattering five hits. The right-hander got all the support he would need in the third, when Andy Dirks and Gerald Laird reached on back-to-back bunt singles and moved up on a groundout before Infante sent a double to left.

Cabrera extended the lead to 5-0 with a solo home run in the seventh. The deep blast to left drew him to within one homer of Josh Hamilton for the AL lead. Cabrera is setting the pace in batting average (.334) and RBIs (130).

GAME NOTEBOOK: Oakland has lost three straight games after winning eight of their previous nine. … A’s 1B Daric Barton started for the first time since May 30 as the team tried to stack the lineup with left-handed bats against Verlander. Barton went 1-for-3. … Tigers RHP Max Scherzer, who left Tuesday’s start with right shoulder fatigue, is questionable for his next start. An MRI was negative.