Final
Castellanos, Suarez homer in 9th as Tigers down Jays
Aug 9, 2014 - 6:21 AM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Rajai Davis made a game-saving catch after Nick Castellanos and Eugenio Suarez hit back-to-back home runs in the ninth inning as the Detroit Tigers stunned the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game series.The Tigers were scuffling offensively coming into the series as they totaled just six runs in losing three of four games to the Yankees in New York.
Toronto's staff kept the AL Central leaders in a funk on Friday before a pair of rookies provided a spark with Detroit trailing 4-2 in the ninth.
J.D. Martinez ended a string of 10 straight Tigers retired with a leadoff double, and Castellanos crushed a tying homer to left-center two batters later.
It only took two more pitches for Detroit to take its first lead, as Suarez's blast caromed off the black backdrop in straightaway center.
Joe Nathan was shaky in the ninth, as Jose Bautista's leadoff single followed by a pair of two-out walks loaded the bases for Josh Thole. Thole sent a flare into foul territory, and Davis sprinted in from left field and made a sliding catch to seal the win.
Nathan survived with his 24th save, while Casey Janssen (3-1) served up both round trippers to take the loss, Toronto's sixth in its last seven games.
"Tip my cap to them and be ready for the challenge tomorrow," Janssen said.
Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez left with a right pectoralis strain with two outs in the fifth. Sanchez was in line for the loss prior to the comeback, having allowed four runs on 10 hits.
"It was something in the pec ... we're not quite sure what it is," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said of Sanchez's injury.
R.A. Dickey scattered five hits, four walks and two runs over his six-inning start for Toronto, which stranded 13 en route to blowing a 4-0 lead.
Bautista worked a two-out walk in the home first, moved to third on one of Dioner Navarro's three hits and scored on Danny Valencia's single to left.
Munenori Kawasaki led off the second inning with a double and scored two batters later on Ryan Goins' well-placed bunt. Goins beat out Sanchez's throw to first, and Melky Cabrera and Bautista each added run-scoring singles.
Ian Kinsler's two-run single in the third provided Detroit with its only offense before the late rally.
Game Notes
Janssen has three blown saves on the year ... Sanchez has allowed four or more runs in four of his last five starts ... Kinsler had three hits for Detroit, which was outhit 13-9 ... Toronto swept a three-game series in Detroit in June.
- DETROIT: 5
TORONTO: 4
Final
Aug 8 10:28 PM - Eugenio Suarez one-out, solo Home Run (4) to center. Rajai Davis due up.
Tigers 5, Blue Jays 4 Top 9, 1 OutAug 8 10:01 PM - Nick Castellanos one-out, two-run Home Run (8) to left center scored J.D. Martinez. Eugenio Suarez due up.
Tigers 4, Blue Jays 4 Top 9, 1 OutAug 8 10:00 PM - Ian Kinsler singled to center scored Eugenio Suarez and Rajai Davis with none out. Runner on first and Miguel Cabrera due up.
Tigers 2, Blue Jays 4 Top 3, 0 OutsAug 8 8:04 PM - Jose Bautista singled to right scored Jose Reyes with one out. On the play, Melky Cabrera advances to second. Runners on first and second and Dioner Navarro due up.
Tigers 0, Blue Jays 4 Bot 2, 1 OutAug 8 7:52 PM - Melky Cabrera singled to left scored Ryan Goins with one out. On the play, Jose Reyes advances to third on J.D. Martinez's fielding error. Runners on first and third and Jose Bautista due up.
Tigers 0, Blue Jays 3 Bot 2, 1 OutAug 8 7:51 PM - Ryan Goins singled to pitcher scored Munenori Kawasaki with one out. Runner on first and Jose Reyes due up.
Tigers 0, Blue Jays 2 Bot 2, 1 OutAug 8 7:43 PM - Danny Valencia singled to left scored Jose Bautista with two outs. On the play, Dioner Navarro advances to second. Runners on first and second and Colby Rasmus due up.
Tigers 0, Blue Jays 1 Bot 1, 2 OutsAug 8 7:25 PM - DETROIT: 0
TORONTO: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Aug 8 7:09 PM
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