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Fister, Peralta lead Tigers past Blue Jays

Jul 29, 2012 - 10:01 PM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Doug Fister fired eight strong innings of one- run ball Sunday, as the Tigers salvaged the final of a three-game set against the Blue Jays with a 4-1 victory at Rogers Centre.

Fister (5-7) scattered seven hits and walked two while striking out nine to earn his fourth victory in his last five starts. Jose Valverde worked a perfect ninth to record his 20th save of the season.

"We won a nice game dictated by great pitching by Fister," said Detroit manager Jim Leyland of his starter. "I thought he really pitched an effective game."

Jhonny Peralta clubbed a three-run home run in the second and added a solo shot in the ninth to account for the Tigers' offense as they snapped a three- game skid.

Brett Cecil (2-4) absorbed the loss after giving up three runs on four hits and four walks with seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.

Rajai Davis finished with two hits and scored the lone run for the Blue Jays, who wrapped up a six-game homestand at 3-3.

The Blue Jays struck in their first at-bat as Davis singled, stole second and moved to third when catcher Gerald Laird's throw bounced into center field.

Davis then crossed the plate on a groundout from Colby Rasmus for a 1-0 lead.

Detroit answered in the second as Delmon Young worked a walk to start the frame and Ryan Raburn followed with a double off the wall in left field to set the table for Peralta, who launched a breaking ball into the bullpen in left to give the Tigers a 3-1 lead.

"I thought Brett did his job, keeping us in the game," said Toronto manager John Farrell of Cecil. "After the three-run homer in the second, he settled down."

The Blue Jays outhit the Tigers 7-5, but couldn't string anything together as they failed to move a runner past second base after the first inning and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

Peralta added a two-out, solo blast to center field in the ninth to provide the Tigers with a three-run cushion.

Game Notes

Fister improved to 2-5 on the road this season...Detroit is now 2-5 on its current nine-game road trip which culminates with a three-game set in Boston beginning on Monday...Toronto begins a 10-game roadtrip with a three-game set on Monday in Seattle...Golfer Ernie Els, who won the 2012 British Open, threw out the first pitch.