Merrifield, Manoah lead Blue Jays 12-2 over Tigers
DETROIT (AP) –
Whit Merrifield homered to drive in four runs as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Detroit Tigers 12-2 on Friday-evening for their fourth win in a row.
Toronto improved to 15-5 against American League Central teams, while the Tigers fell to 2-15 against AL East.
George Springer added a home run and three RBIs for Toronto, which sent 10 batters to the plate in a six-run fourth and 11 in a five-run ninth. Kevin Kiermaier had four hits.
“The offense was great tonight,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “George made sure we started early with the big homer and Whit finished it off in the end.”
Alek Manoah (2-7) won for the first time since April 5, giving up one run on five hits in six innings. Manoah, whose 11-start winless streak started on April 11 against the Tigers, struckout eight batters without walking.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this performance,” said Manoah, who started for Double-A New Hampshire on Sunday in an effort to resolve his control issues. “This feels great. I’m excited about the progress I’ve made over the past month and look forward to building on that.”
Manoah struck out 19 strikes on the first pitch to 23 batters – a record high of 82.6%.
“This is what we saw when he was working in Florida and New Hampshire,” Schneider said. “I’m really proud of the way he’s handled this and the work he’s put in to get back here.”
Alex Faedo (1-5) took defeat in his first start since June 2. He allowed seven runs in 3 2/3 innings in his return from a finger injury.
“I thought there were a lot of pros and cons,” Faedo said. “I thought the first three innings went well, but then the fourth inning happened. I have to be able to limit the damage when I get into an inning like that.”
The Blue Jays took the lead in the third. Kiermaier singled with two outs and Springer followed with an RBI double.
Spencer Torkelson’s RBI single tied the score in the bottom of the third, but the Blue Jays scored six runs in the fourth.
Toronto loaded the bases on a single and two walks, and Merrifield made it 2-1 with an RBI single. Varsho popped up, but Danny Jansen hit a two-run double.
Keirmaier’s groundout gave the Blue Jays a four-run lead and Springer’s home run lifted the lead to 7–1.
“I think I would have pitched the same way the second time around,” said Faedo. “I’m going to watch the video and see if I need to work on that.”
Matt Vierling’s third single lifted Detroit to 7-2 in the eighth, but Merrifield’s three-run homer capped a five-run ninth. Tigers utility infielder Zack Short got the last three outs without giving up a run.
“They had a good approach and we didn’t react,” said Javier Báez. “We have to keep the game close.”
TRAINERS ROOM
Blue Jays: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (elbow) is scheduled to make a rehab start in the Florida State League on Sunday. He is expected to pitch 3-4 innings on his return from Tommy John surgery.
Tigers: CF Riley Greene (leg) is expected to be activated for Saturday’s game. Greene has been sidelined since May 31 as he recovers from a stress reaction in his left leg.
DIVIDED CROWD
The game drew 30,029 fans – the third-largest home crowd of the season – and Blue Jays jerseys easily outnumbered Tigers jerseys in the stands.
NEXT ONE
The teams will play the second game of the weekend series on Saturday, pitting Detroit’s RHP Matt Manning (2-1, 4.84) against RHP Kevin Gausman (7-4, 3.04).
