Tigers 6, Blue Jays 5
The Toronto Blue Jays suffered a crushing 6–5 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Rogers Centre, squandering a late lead and missing an opportunity to gain ground in the American League wild-card race.
Toronto remains one game behind Cleveland with 11 regular-season games remaining.
Game Story
Toronto jumped ahead 2–0 in the first inning. Alejandro Kirk delivered an RBI single, and George Springer scored on a wild pitch.
Starter José Soriano was sensational early. He carried a perfect game into the sixth inning before Detroit finally broke through.
The Tigers scored four times in the seventh, with RBI hits from Dillon Dingler and Spencer Torkelson and a two-run double from Max Clark.
Soriano finished with 4 runs allowed on 5 hits and 5 strikeouts over 6⅓ innings.
Toronto answered immediately. Springer and Kirk reached base before Kazuma Okamoto launched a three-run homer, his 33rd of the season, putting the Jays back ahead 5–4.
Detroit tied the game in the eighth on Brett Callahan’s RBI single.
The decisive ninth
The Tigers produced the winning run in painful fashion.
Zach McKinstry reached base, stole second and came around when Blue Jays closer Louis Varland mishandled Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s throw, allowing McKinstry to score the go-ahead run.
Kenley Jansen then closed out the game for Detroit with his 20th save.
Blue Jays Standouts
Kazuma Okamoto: 3-run homer, 33rd HR of season
Alejandro Kirk: RBI single and key offensive contribution
José Soriano: 6⅓ IP, 5 H, 4 R, 5 K; carried a perfect game deep into the contest
George Springer: scored twice and reached base in the late innings
Playoff Picture
The defeat leaves Toronto 75–76, still one game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final AL wild-card position.
The Jays had a chance to gain ground because Cleveland also lost Monday. Instead, Toronto remains in a tense postseason race with only 11 games left.
Turning Point
The seventh inning. Soriano’s no-hit bid disappeared, Detroit scored four runs, and although Okamoto’s three-run homer restored Toronto’s lead, the bullpen could not protect it.
