CHICAGO (AP) -- The last time the Detroit Tigers visited Wrigley Field, it was for Game 7 of the 1945 World Series.

"I wasn't alive then. I'm just glad we got the win," Chicago's Jeff Huson said Friday after the Cubs beat the Tigers 2-0 Friday.

In that 1945 game -- the last Series game the Cubs have played -- Detroit won 9-3.

	Aguilera

Rick Aguilera pitched a perfect ninth to become the 13th pitcher to reach the milestone.

"It's amazing how easy the game can look," said Aguilera, who is 11-for-15 in save chances, including five in a row. "Maybe when I'm a grandpa or something I can tell them about the game."

Detroit's Juan Gonzalez, who missed this week's three-game series against Texas, his former team, because of a strained left foot, went 2-for-3, including his first triple since last Sept. 26, his only triple in 1999.

Tigers manager Phil Garner said Gonzalez re-injured his foot after the triple and may have to be sidelined again.

"DHing would be better, but there's no chance of that for awhile," Gonzalez said.

Aguilera recalled how Minnesota manager Tom Kelly called him after the 1989 season and told him he'd be the Twins closer in 1990.

"I know you'll do what's best for the team," Aguilera remembered Kelly telling him. "After I hung up, I told my wife I didn't know if I had the mental strength to be a closer."

His status with the Cubs, who acquired him in May 1999 from Minnesota, was in doubt as recently as mid-May. An adjustment in Aguilera's mechanics has helped.

"I was just hoping Don (Baylor, the Cubs' manager) wouldn't give up on me," Aguilera said.

Garner was frustrated with his team's lack of offense. The Tigers have been shut out eight times in 50 games, the most in the majors.

"We seem to be the exception in baseball," Garner said. "In 25 games out of 50, by my numbers, we've scored two runs or less. You can't win scoring runs that way. That's awful.

"That's a major league ballclub. Nobody comes close to being shut out eight times. Is it any wonder we're the worst in the world in everything offensively?"

Garner doesn't have many options.

"We've had a bunch of different lineups. There's no trick in that unless I can get Ty Cobb, Charlie Gehringer and Al Kaline into the lineup," Garner said. "Kaline was supposed to be here at gametime. He was late, so I'm fining him."

Damon Buford hit his 10th home run of the season, matching his career high. He also scored the Cubs' first run in the third inning.

Downs (2-1), making his 10th major league start, gave up eight hits and walked none in 7 2/3 innings. The left-hander matched his career strikeout high with six, also accomplished April 15 against Florida.

"I was able to keep them off balance. For me, that's the biggest thing," said Downs, who had started seven games since his only other win April 15.

Tim Worrell struck out Gonzalez to end the eighth with two on.

Hideo Nomo (2-4) allowed both runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out seven.

Buford reached on an infield single with one out in the third, advanced on Downs' sacrifice and scored on Eric Young's single.

Buford homered with two out in the Cubs fifth, hitting the first pitch from Nomo over the left field bleachers to make it 2-0.

Detroit loaded the bases with one out in the seventh but Downs got Deivi Cruz to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Game notes
It was the Cubs' first shutout since last Sept. 24, when they blanked Pittsburgh 9-0 at Wrigley. ... Buford also hit 10 home runs for Boston in 1998. ... Damion Easley, activated from the disabled list Friday, started at second base. Easley had been sidelined with a hairline fracture in his right wrist. ... There were not as many security personnel stationed near the visitor's bullpen as were present during the Chicago-Atlanta series, when controversial Braves reliever John Rocker was at Wrigley Field.