George Springer singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th, and the Toronto Blue Jays came back to defeat the visiting Detroit Tigers 4-3 on Wednesday night.
Toronto scored two in the ninth to tie the game, two innings after Kerry Carpenter hit a two-run home run that gave Detroit a 3-1 lead in the seventh. Nick Maton had a solo shot in the fourth for the Tigers, who have lost six in a row.
Detroit left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez allowed one run, seven hits and one walk in six innings, striking out three.
Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman allowed three runs and five hits while striking out 11 in eight innings, as neither starter factored into the decision.
Toronto had two hits and a walk in the first inning but did not score. Springer’s leadoff single was erased when Bo Bichette grounded into a double play. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked but was thrown out at home on Matt Chapman’s double to right.
Gausman retired the first 10 batters he faced, striking out six, before Maton hit his second home run in as many games.
Toronto tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. Guerrero singled with one out and took second on Daulton Varsho’s two-out single. Guerrero was awarded home on Whit Merrifield’s infield single to shortstop when it was ruled that third baseman Ryan Kreidler had impeded him as he rounded the bag.
Detroit then took a 3-1 lead in the seventh. Riley Greene singled with one out and Carpenter hit his first homer of the season with two outs.
Jason Foley replaced Rodriguez and pitched a perfect bottom of the seventh before Alex Lange pitched a perfect bottom of the eighth with two strikeouts.
Trey Wingenter allowed a single to Guerrero before walking Chapman to open the bottom of the ninth. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third and Varsho was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Chasen Shreve (0-1) took over but gave up back-to-back sacrifice files to Merrifield and pinch hitter Alejandro Kirk to blow the save.
Jordan Romano (2-0) allowed only a walk in the top of the 10th.
With Shreve still on the mound, Kevin Kiermaier bunted automatic runner Danny Jansen to third to start the bottom of the 10th before Jose Cisnero replaced Shreve and gave up Springer’s single.
–Field Level Media
