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Wells helps Blue Jays edge Tigers

Aug 14, 2008 - 3:56 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Detroit Tigers fought back after getting knocked down early, but the blow proved to be too much to overcome - a pattern that has been synonymous with their disappointing season.

Jim Leyland's crew executed a ferocious ninth-inning rally, but Vernon Wells' third-inning grand slam gave the Toronto Blue Jays just enough to hand the Tigers a 4-3 loss - their 10th in the last 13 games.

"This is dangerous, because we're playing just well enough to lose," Leyland said. "That's not good. We have to start doing the things that it takes to win games. We've had some bad hops lately and I don't know why."

Detroit starter Kenny Rogers issued a leadoff walk in the third to Marco Scutaro and two infield singles to David Eckstein and Alex Rios. Wells then connected on his decisive shot, his 10th of the season and fifth career with the bases loaded.

"That inning was unfortunate in a lot of ways," Rogers said. "No one made a mistake, I just wish I had gotten that pitch to Vernon down a little. When you get the bases loaded with no one out, you aren't going to get away with anything.

"I'm not unhappy at all with the way I pitched. We just don't have a lot of things going for us right now."

The former All-Star outfielder missed nearly a month with a lingering hamstring injury and returned to the lineup on Sunday. Wells is 5-for-14 with seven RBI in five games since.

Toronto starter David Purcey (2-3) allowed two hits and three walks while striking out four in his sixth career start, which was delayed in the top of the seventh for 49 minutes due to rain.

"He did an outstanding job," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "He threw the ball well but got behind a few of the hitters. That's the biggest thing he has to work on is getting those first pitch strikes and getting ahead of the hitters."

"This was a good experience for me," Purcey said. "I was able to face good hitters and slow the game down enough to keep them off balance."

Rogers (9-9) dropped his fourth straight outing and helped the Blue Jays improve to 27-20 under Gaston, who took over for John Gibbons on June 20, when the team was four games under .500.

The Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth against relievers Scott Downs and Brandon League, but stranded the tying run at second as Brandon Inge struck out.

"They have been super, I can't say enough about them," Gaston said of his bullpen.

However, the team may have lost a staple in their relief corps. Downs left with an apparent right ankle injury after surrendering a base hit to Magglio Ordonez, who sparked the rally. He ran to cover third base and fell to the ground clutching his ankle in agony.

"He has a right ankle sprain and will be re-assessed in a few days," Gaston said. "If he can't pitch for a while it will be a big loss for this team. He's done so much to help us."

Mired in a miserable slump, Detroit (58-62) has yet to ease the sting of a pedestrian first half, where it was 47-47 after getting bombarded with talks of returning to the World Series during spring training. Now, it stands 9 1/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox (67-52) in the American League Central Division.