Bo Bichette had a two-run double during a four-run fifth as the American League East-leading Toronto Blue Jays downed the slumping Detroit Tigers, 6-2, on Friday night.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. supplied two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI for the Blue Jays, who have won seven of eight games since the All-Star break. George Springer had three hits and scored a run, while Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk drove in the other Toronto runs.
Blue Jays starter Jose Berrios (7-4) gave up two runs and five hits with six strikeouts in six innings. A trio of relievers pitched a perfect inning apiece for Toronto, which has taken the first two games of the four-game series.
Spencer Torkelson homered for the second time in as many days for the Tigers, who have lost five straight and 11 of their last 12. Dillon Dingler drove in the other Tigers run.
Detroit starter Keider Montero (4-3) was charged with six runs (five earned) and nine hits in four-plus innings.
The Tigers took the lead in the second. Wenceel Perez slapped a single, stole second and scored on Dingler’s one-out double. Dingler was stranded at second as Parker Meadows popped out and Javier Baez struck out.
Guerrero led off the top of the fourth with a double and scored on Barger’s one-out double to center. With two outs, Barger scored when shortstop Baez made a throwing error on a Joey Loperfido grounder.
The Blue Jays extended their lead to 6-1 in the fifth. Nathan Lukes led off with a single and moved to third on Springer’s single. Guerrero’s second double of the contest brought home Lukes. Bichette’s double to right knocked in both Springer and Guerrero.
That ended Montero’s night. The Blue Jays continued to score with Tyler Holton on the mound. Kirk brought home Bichette with a single.
Torkelson made it 6-2 with one out in the sixth when he lifted a Berrios sinker over the left-center field wall for his 23rd homer.
–Field Level Media
