DETROIT — This is a completely different looking Detroit Tigers team from a month ago.

They weren't pitching very well, didn't generate much offense during the mid-July slump and looking like a team with waning confidence.

They took apart the AL West-leading Houston Astros 10-0 Monday, further putting away the mystifying blip of a month ago and taking the opening game of this battle between division leaders.

The Tigers have gone 14-7 in their last 21 games — the best record in the American League since July 27 — after losing 12 of their previous 13 games heading into this stretch.

Jack Flaherty took care of the pitching Monday for the Tigers, and many hitters contributed offensively.

Flaherty got out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning, then cruised through the next six innings for his seventh victory (7-12). Troy Melton and Alex Lange (recalled earlier in the day) each pitched a scoreless inning to complete the shutout.

Flaherty allowed three hits over seven innings, walked one hitter and struck out nine. Flaherty only faced one batter over the minimum after his first inning troubles and threw 60 strikes out of his 90 pitches.

The Tigers' bats began to come alive in the fourth inning in support of Flaherty. Wenceel Perez blasted his 10th home run, off losing pitcher Spencer Arrighetti, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers broke it open in the fifth inning. Colt Keith led off with a double, Gleyber Torres walked, and Kerry Carpenter brought both runners home with a triple into the corner.

Carpenter then trotted home on Riley Greene's 29th home run, giving the Tigers a 5-0 lead.

Trey Sweeney opened the sixth inning with a triple, and came home on Keith's sacrifice fly, making it 6-0. Sweeney wasn't done, as in the seventh inning — after Spencer Torkelson and Dillon Dingler singles — Sweeney's sixth home run, put the Tigers ahead 9-0. Two batters later, Keith hit his 11th home run to make it 10-0 Tigers.

Eight Tigers scored a run, Keith had three hits and Perez, Dingler and Sweeney each had two in a 13-hit barrage, and Sweeney drove in three runs.

The two teams play again Tuesday, with Tarik Skubal (11-3, 2.42 ERA, 0.87 WHIP) on the mound for the Tigers.

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