Field Level Media
Jun 1, 2018
JaCoby Jones ripped a two-run triple during a four-run second inning, converted reliever Blaine Hardy won his second consecutive start and the host Detroit Tigers downed the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2 on Friday night.
Hardy (2-0) limited the Blue Jays to two runs on three hits in six innings. Shane Greene pitched the ninth and collected his 14th save.
Nicholas Castellanos supplied three hits, including a solo homer, in Detroit's third straight victory. Miguel Cabrera came off the DL and went 1-for-3 with a walk.
Teoscar Hernandez had three hits, a run scored and an RBI for the Blue Jays, who have lost four straight. Losing pitcher Jaime Garcia (2-4) lasted just 1 2/3 innings while surrendering four runs and seven hits.
Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson was placed on the 10-day disabled list earlier in the day with left calf tightness. Right fielder Randal Grichuk and shortstop Aledmys Diaz were activated from the DL and batted in the No. 8 and No. 9 spots, respectively.
Grichuk went 0-for-2 before getting removed for a pinch hitter. Diaz went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
The Tigers sent 10 men to the plate in the second and took a 4-0 lead.
Victor Martinez and James McCann reached on singles prior to Jones' drive to the gap in right-center. Jones scored on Leonys Martin's groundout.
The Tigers continued to rough up Garcia as Jose Iglesias doubled and scored on Jeimer Candelario's single. When Castellanos followed with a single, Garcia's night was done.
Reliever Danny Barnes walked Cabrera before retiring Martinez on a groundout.
Toronto pulled within 4-2 in the sixth. Diaz walked and Hernandez clobbered a shot to deep right-center that Martin, the center fielder, nearly hauled in, but it went for a triple.
Three batters later, Hernandez scored on Kendrys Morales' sacrifice fly.
The Blue Jays had runners in scoring position with two outs in the seventh, but Hernandez flied out against reliever Buck Farmer.
Castellanos drilled his sixth homer over the left field wall in the bottom of the seventh to make it 5-2.
The Blue Jays missed a chance in the eighth when second baseman Devon Travis grounded out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
--Field Level Media