George Springer had two home runs, a double and three RBIs and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Detroit Tigers 5-4 on Sunday afternoon.
Ernie Clement hit the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth as the Blue Jays avoided a three-game series sweep.
Justyn-Henry Malloy hit a grand slam for the Tigers, whose four-game winning streak ended.
Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman (8-8) allowed four runs, five hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Detroit right-hander Keider Montero (1-3) allowed five runs and eight hits while striking out three in 5 1/3 innings.
Springer started the home first with the 58th home run of his career leading off a game.
Clement singled to lead off the Toronto third, and Springer hit his second homer of the game and 13th of the season with one out on a drive to left.
Detroit took a 4-3 lead in the fifth on Malloy’s sixth homer of the season. Zach McKinstry led off with a single and stole second. Wenceel Perez and Colt Keith walked with two outs and Malloy hit the Tigers’ second grand slam in two days.
Toronto tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Springer doubled to left with one out and scored on Spencer Horwitz’s single to center.
Toronto took the lead for good in the sixth. Justin Turner led off with a single. Will Vest replaced Montero with one out and walked Daulton Varsho. Clement then hit a two-out RBI single to center.
Detroit threatened in the eighth when Genesis Cabrera walked Malloy with one out and Riley Green singled. After Chad Green replaced Cabrera, Varsho made a leaping catch on Carson Kelly at the left field wall. Varsho had moved to left when Kevin Kiermaier entered the game to play center field to start the eighth.
Green pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings to earn his seventh save.
Detroit put right-hander Reese Olson (right shoulder strain) on the injured list and optioned infielder/outfielder Ryan Vilade to Triple-A Toledo. Infielder/outfielder Bligh Madris and left-hander Easton Lucas were promoted. Madris started at first base on Sunday and was 0-for-4.
–Field Level Media
