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Snider, Mathis lead Blue Jays over Tigers

Jul 28, 2012 - 6:58 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Travis Snider homered and Jeff Mathis drove in three runs as the Toronto Blue Jays took down the Detroit Tigers, 8-3, in the opener of a three-game set at Rogers Centre.

Omar Vizquel went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple and also knocked in a run for the Blue Jays, who have won five of seven. Edwin Encarnacion and Anthony Gose had an RBI apiece in the win.

Carlos Villanueva (6-0) allowed two runs on four hits and struck out three over five frames. Villanueva hasn't lost a game in the majors since September 17, 2011.

Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder hit back-to-back homers for the Tigers, who lost for the eighth time in 25 games.

Rick Porcello (7-6) was pegged with the loss after giving up five runs on six hits over six innings.

Toronto answered the Tigers sluggers with a run in the home half. Vizquel dropped a double just inside the line in right then scored when Encarnacion ripped a single through the hole at second.

The Blue Jays used a four-run fourth to go up 5-2. Encarnacion reached on a fielder's choice before Kelly Johnson and Snider walked to load the bases. Mathis followed with a double to left to clear the bases before scoring on a Gose single.

"Just got a pitch up in the zone that I could handle," said Mathis. "Snyder had a great at-bat in front of me to get on."

Vizquel's triple in the seventh scored Brett Lawrie to put Toronto up 6-2.

The Tigers came back with a run in the top of the eighth to make it 6-3. Cabrera doubled then scored on Fielder's single to center. Rasmus' throw beat Cabrera to the plate but Mathis applied the tag too high and the Tigers third baseman slid under the tag safely.

Snider crushed all hope for a Tigers comeback with a two-run blast in the home half. Yan Gomes reached on a throwing error by newly acquired second baseman Omar Infante before Snider clobbered his third homer in his last five games.

"We didn't pitch well and we didn't hit well so we have to come back tomorrow and see what happens," said Fielder.

Game Notes

Villanueva has won four straight starts...Mathis extended his hitting-streak to eight games...Cabrera has 25 homers this season...Newly acquired pitcher Anibal Sanchez will make his debut with the Tigers Saturday.