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Blue Jays spoil Tigers' home opener with extra-inning win

Apr 2, 2007 - 10:38 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Toronto Blue Jays scored early against Jeremy Bonderman and late against Fernando Rodney. It was enough to spoil the Detroit Tigers' home opener.

Troy Glaus delivered the go-ahead RBI single off Rodney in the 10th inning as the Blue Jays posted a 5-3 victory over the Tigers before a crowd of 44,297 at Comerica Park.

The defending American League champions had rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game before the Blue Jays scored twice against Rodney in the 10th.

Superb relief pitching by Todd Jones, Joel Zumaya and Rodney was one of the primary reasons why the Tigers won the pennant last season. Zumaya pitched two hitless innings and Jones worked a perfect ninth.

But Rodney (0-1) struggled in the 10th. Lyle Overbay singled with one out before Rodney walked Vernon Wells and hit Frank Thomas with a pitch to load the bases. Glaus then singled to left to score pinch runner Jason Smith.

"It was a two-strike changeup from Rodney," Glaus said. "I was just trying to do something to get the run across. It was a big run."

"Rodney threw two great pitches to Glaus but couldn't get the third," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

Alex Rios followed with a run-scoring groundout to increase the lead to 5-3.

Meanwhile, Toronto's bullpen combined to pitch four scoreless innings after starter Roy Halladay failed to hold a 3-0 lead. Casey Janssen was especially effective with 2 1/3 hitless innings.

"Janssen had a great spring, and he's a guy that fits in that situation," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Our bullpen is pretty good, and they did the job today."

Jason Frasor (1-0) recorded two outs for the win and B.J. Ryan pitched the 10th for his first save.

The Blue Jays scored three runs in the first inning against Bonderman.

Reed Johnson led off with a walk, stole second and scored on a double by Overbay. Wells followed with an RBI single to center and also stole second. Rios capped the inning with a run-scoring double to left-center.

Bonderman pitched five scoreless innings the rest of the way.

"It was disappointing the give up three runs early," Bonderman said. "But I did settle down and gave us a chance to win the game."

Meanwhile, the Tigers chipped away against Halladay, a former Cy Young Award winner who allowed three runs, two earned, and six hits in six innings.

"It was a first game," Halladay said. "The first time out, you always have little things come up that you have to fight through. I didn't throw my changeup as much as I wanted, and I was getting the ball up too much. When I'm throwing well, I'm ahead of the hitters, and I'm getting ground balls. I wasn't doing that late in the game."

Gary Sheffield, who was acquired by the Tigers from the New York Yankees in the offseason, highlighted the comeback with a pair of sacrifice flies.

"I'm very glad to be here," Sheffield said. "I wish I could have done more to help us win today. We just have to get ready for Wednesday."

The Tigers scored an unearned run in the third inning. Brandon Inge reached on an error by second baseman Aaron Hill, moved to second on a grounder by Curtis Granderson, advanced to third on a single by Placido Polanco and scored on Sheffield's liner to left.

Inge walked and Granderson doubled to right-center to start the fifth inning. Polanco delivered an RBI single to left and Granderson scored on Sheffield's second sacrifice fly.

"It was a tough way to lose an Opening Day," Granderson said.