The Sports Xchange
Jul 15, 2017
DETROIT -- Michael Fulmer checked Toronto on two hits in eight innings and the Detroit Tigers utilized the long ball and the wildness of Blue Jays starter Francisco Liriano to produce an 11-1 victory Saturday at Comerica Park.
Fulmer posted his fourth straight win to improve to 10-6.
Liriano, who left the game in the third inning without retiring a batter after walking the bases loaded, allowed five earned runs and three hits to drop to 5-5.
J.D. Martinez hit his 15th homer of the season, a three-run shot in the eighth inning, for the Tigers. Jose Iglesias scored on a fielder's choice and Miguel Cabrera clouted a two-run homer, his 12th of the year, during a three-run Detroit sixth.
Nicholas Castellanos, the second batter Liriano faced, drove a 1-0 offering into the right-field seats to open the scoring for Detroit. The solo shot was the 11th home run of the year for Castellanos.
Detroit doubled its advantage in the second inning. Iglesias looped a two-out single into shallow right field, scoring Mikie Mahtook.
Liriano opened the third inning by walking the bases loaded and was removed from the game with a neck tightness while in the midst of a 2-0 count on Martinez. He welcomed reliever Mike Bolsinger by stroking his first pitch into left field for a two-run single.
Mahtook's sacrifice fly brought home Miguel Cabrera to give the Tigers a 5-0 lead.
The Blue Jays shattered Fulmer's shutout bid in the fourth when Jose Bautista, who had drawn a leadoff walk, scored on a groundout by Josh Donaldson.
NOTES: Tigers LHP Daniel Norris, on the disabled list with a groin strain, will throw another bullpen session Sunday before it is determined whether he will be activated to start Tuesday at Kansas City. ... Detroit 2B Ian Kinsler returned to his usual leadoff spot in the batting order after missing Friday's game because of illness. ... The Tigers held a closed-door meeting before the game, but the players and manager Brad Ausmus declined to talk about what was discussed during the session. ... The Blue Jays are 5-3 in their last eight games but have been outscored 57-36 in those games. ... The Los Angeles Angels (.593) are the only American League team to own a greater winning percentage in July the past four seasons than the Blue Jays, who are 48-38 (.558) during the month since 2014. ... Blue Jays OF Devon Travis, recovering from knee surgery, took infield before the game but is still weeks from being activated from the DL.