Final
Verlander, Tigers try to avoid sweep vs. Blue Jays
Jun 5, 2014 - 12:59 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Justin Verlander had a little something on his fastball last time out, helping him return to the win column for the first time in three starts.The Detroit Tigers hurler will need to be in top form again Thursday as he gets the call in the finale of a three-game set with the hard-hitting Toronto Blue Jays.
The right-handed Verlander is coming off a 6-3 win over the hosting Seattle Mariners on Friday, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk over 7 2/3 innings. It was his longest outing since going eight frames on April 6, and his seven strikeouts against the Mariners was his highest total since also fanning seven on May 4 at Kansas City.
Verlander is 6-4 with a 3.99 earned run average on the year and 3-2 lifetime against the Blue Jays with a 4.02 ERA.
Toronto left-hander J.A. Happ will make his seventh start of the year and had won three straight outings before a 6-1 loss to the Royals on Friday. It was an odd game for Happ, who logged a season-high 7 2/3 innings, but also yielded a 2014-worst six runs on nine hits and two walks.
Happ, 31, dipped to 4-2 with a 4.10 ERA in nine total appearances on the season and will face the Tigers for the third time in his career and for the second time as a starter. He has held them to a run over 9 1/3 innings without a decision, striking out eight.
The red-hot Blue Jays are looking to sweep the Tigers for the first time since April 5-7, 2004 and won their fourth straight overall with last night's 8-2 win.
Melky Cabrera had three hits, one a homer, and three runs scored, while Jose Bautista also chipped in with three hits and a pair of RBI. Adam Lind drove in three runs in his club's 13th victory in 15 games.
R.A. Dickey (6-4) gave up both runs on seven hits and four walks in five-plus innings, while four relievers combined to yield zero hits the rest of the way.
That includes Aaron Loup, who took over in the sixth inning for Dickey after he had yielded a pair of walks around a single to load the bases with nobody out. However, Loup fanned J.D. Martinez and then induced weak pop flies in foul territory to both Rajai Davis and Ian Kinsler.
"Tonight, I guess was one of those lucky nights where you kind of pull a rabbit out of your hat," said Loup. "Usually you don't get out of situations like that."
Miguel Cabrera and Kinsler had solo homers to produce the two Detroit runs, while Rick Porcello (8-3) was charged with three runs on six hits over seven innings.
"We had some opportunities. We were unable to come up with the big hit tonight," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.
The Tigers have lost four straight.
- TORONTO: 7
DETROIT: 3
Final
Jun 5 4:02 PM - Melky Cabrera two-out, solo Home Run (10) to left. Jose Bautista due up.
Blue Jays 7, Tigers 3 Top 9, 2 OutsJun 5 3:49 PM - Brett Lawrie lead-off Home Run (10) to left. Dioner Navarro due up. NOTE: The home runs are back-to-back.
Blue Jays 6, Tigers 3 Top 6, 0 OutsJun 5 2:53 PM - Juan Francisco none-out, two-run Home Run (10) to right scored Adam Lind. Brett Lawrie due up.
Blue Jays 5, Tigers 3 Top 6, 0 OutsJun 5 2:50 PM - Ian Kinsler grounded out third to first scoring Alex Avila. Runner on second with two outs and Torii Hunter due up.
Blue Jays 3, Tigers 3 Bot 5, 2 OutsJun 5 2:42 PM - Erik Kratz singled to left scoring Adam Lind and Brett Lawrie. On the play, Dioner Navarro advances to second. Runners on first and second with one out and Anthony Gose due up.
Blue Jays 3, Tigers 2 Top 4, 1 OutJun 5 2:14 PM - Dioner Navarro singled to left scoring Jose Bautista. On the play, Brett Lawrie advances to second and Adam Lind advances to third. Bases loaded with one out and Erik Kratz due up.
Blue Jays 1, Tigers 2 Top 4, 1 OutJun 5 2:13 PM - Torii Hunter sacrifice fly out to center scored Ian Kinsler. None on with two outs and Miguel Cabrera due up.
Blue Jays 0, Tigers 2 Bot 3, 2 OutsJun 5 1:54 PM - Ian Kinsler tripled to left scoring Nick Castellanos. Runner on third with one out and Torii Hunter due up.
Blue Jays 0, Tigers 1 Bot 3, 1 OutJun 5 1:53 PM - TORONTO: 0
DETROIT: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jun 5 1:09 PM
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