Final
Tigers top Jays as Valverde reaches milestone
May 9, 2011 - 12:37 AMVideo
Penny (3-3) allowed just two runs and seven hits in 7 2/3 innings for Detroit, which has won five of its last six, including Justin Verlander's no-hitter in Saturday's 9-0 win.
Jose Valverde recorded his 200th save of his career, striking out three straight batters to end the game.
"Well it's just another great milestone. You know those happen all the time, and this was a good one for him, obviously. We talked about it yesterday, actually, that he needed one more for 200. Well we were hoping to get it today and sometimes those things work out," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland.
Jose Bautista, who returned to the lineup after missing the last five games with a stiff neck, belted a two-run homer for Toronto.
Jo-Jo Reyes (0-3) suffered another loss, allowing five runs on eight hits in seven-plus innings for the Blue Jays, who have dropped six of their last seven games.
Jackson's second home run of the season also brought around Brandon Inge to hand the Tigers a 4-2 lead in the seventh.
Miguel Cabrera added an insurance run in the eighth with his first hit of the series, driving in pinch runner Don Kelly with a single.
Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, but never found the scoreboard again. Penny served an elevated sinker to Bautista, who blasted the pitch into the base of the left field second deck.
"He [Penny] pitched me away earlier and he was successful. So I got to a 3-2 count and I said I'm going to give myself a chance to hit a good fastball, and I got it," said Bautista.
Detroit, though, got the two runs back during the top of the fourth. Victor Martinez hit a two-out RBI double and scored on Jhonny Peralta's single.
Game Notes
Penny improved 4-1 against the Blue Jays in his 12-year career...Valverde, who recorded his seventh save of the season, is the 41st player to record 200 saves...The Toronto Blue Jays activated second baseman Aaron Hill, who went 1- for-4, from the 15-day disabled list before the game. Hill had been sidelined since April 20 with a strained right hamstring...To make room on the 25-man roster, Toronto optioned infielder Mike McCoy to Triple-A Las Vegas.
- DETROIT: 5
TORONTO: 2
Final
May 8 3:42 PM - Miguel Cabrera singled to center scoring Don Kelly. Runner on first with none out and Victor Martinez due up.
Tigers 5, Blue Jays 2 Top 8, 0 OutsMay 8 3:03 PM - Austin Jackson two-out, two-run Home Run (2) to left scored Brandon Inge. Scott Sizemore due up.
Tigers 4, Blue Jays 2 Top 7, 2 OutsMay 8 2:48 PM - Jhonny Peralta singled to left scoring Victor Martinez. Runner on second with two outs and Ryan Raburn due up.
Tigers 2, Blue Jays 2 Top 4, 2 OutsMay 8 2:09 PM - Victor Martinez doubled to center scoring Scott Sizemore. Runner on second with two outs and Jhonny Peralta due up.
Tigers 1, Blue Jays 2 Top 4, 2 OutsMay 8 2:07 PM - Jose Bautista two-out, two-run Home Run (10) to left scored Rajai Davis. Juan Rivera due up.
Tigers 0, Blue Jays 2 Bot 3, 2 OutsMay 8 1:57 PM - DETROIT: 0
TORONTO: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
May 8 1:08 PM
Related News
- Breaking down the Tigers offensive projections for 2024 Dec 26
- Merry Christmas Dec 25
- Happy Birthday Rickey Henderson Dec 25
- Hall of Fame Poll: David Wright Dec 24
- Hall of Fame Poll: Billy Wagner Dec 23
- Off Topic: What is the worst Christmas song? Dec 23
- Tigers sign RHP Shelby Miller to a one-year contract Dec 22
- Friday Open Thread: Your Tigers Christmas wish Dec 22
- Today in Blue Jays History: Brandon Morrow Trade Dec 22
- Off-Topic: Favourite Christmas Song Dec 21
- Happy Birthday Tom Henke Dec 21
- Today in Blue Jays History: Olerud traded for Person Dec 20