The Toronto Blue Jays looked to avoid a three game sweep at the hands of the Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon and they did just that, barely squeaking out a 5-4 victory.
A roster move announced before the game, the Blue Jays put Bo Bichette on the 10 day IL with a right calf strain. He is expected to miss a few weeks with the injury.
With some of the rotation getting shifted around, the Blue Jays sent Kevin Gausman (7-8, 4.50) to face Keider Montero (1-2, 5.47) for the Tigers.
Gausman threw 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits, walking three and striking out five to earn his eighth win of the year. Montero threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, walking none and striking out three while taking his third loss of the season.
The offence got started right away for the Blue Jays. George Springer lead off the bottom half of the 1st with a solo shot, his 12th homer of the year.
Springer would add more offence for Toronto in the bottom of the 3rd, blasting a two run homer for his 13th long ball of the year, and second of the game.
Toronto’s 3-0 lead wouldn’t last for long as the Tigers would strike back to score four runs in the top of the 4th, all on one swing. Although the Blue Jays would quickly secure two outs, Detroit would threaten with bases loaded. Then, rookie Justyn-Henry Malloy would give the Tigers a 4-3 lead with a grand slam, the first of his career.
The Blue Jays would get that run back in the bottom half of the inning, when the red hot Spencer Horwitz would continue his run with an RBI single to tie the game at four.
Toronto would take the lead for good in the bottom of the 6th, with an Ernie Clement single driving in Justin Turner and giving the Blue Jays a 5-4 lead.
The Tigers’ offence however, would not go away. In the top of the 8th, Chad Green was tasked with tightroping out of the inning, as Detroit had runners on first and second with one out. Carson Kelly drove a deep fly ball to left field and it didn’t look like the lead would stay in the hands of the Blue Jays. Until, Daulton Varsho, who had moved over to left field with Kevin Kiermaier entering the game and going to centre, made a game saving catch as he leaped over the scoreboard in left field to stop the tying and potentially the go-ahead runs from scoring. Green would finish the game, recording five outs and securing his seventh save in seven tries this year.
The Blue Jays will get on off day on Monday as they get ready to host the Tampa Bay Rays for a three game series of their own. Jose Berrios (8-7, 4.01) will start the series opener for the Blue Jays as the Rays have not yet announced a starter for game one, Tuesday night.
