Detroit Tigers Walk Off Toronto Blue Jays 3-2

Detroit Tigers fans witnessed yet another win as the Tigers won for the fifth consecutive game. Detroit walked off in extra innings.

The Detroit Tigers secured their first walk-off win of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 in the middle game of their three game series. The Tigers were shutout for the first eight innings by Aaron Sanchez, but two runs in the ninth and one in the tenth clinched the victory.

Pitching dominated this game. Matt Boyd got the start for the Tigers and was strong. He allowed only three hits in 5.1 innings of work, but yielded five walks which led to an elevated pitch count and an early exit. He looked like he was trying to miss bats and make too many perfect pitches which led to his walk problem.

The other problem for Boyd is that Aaron Sanchez started for the Blue Jays and was phenomenal until the ninth. He featured a fastball that hovered around 96-97 with a devastating breaking ball to right handed batters and a fading circle change to the lefties. The best comparison to a Tigers’ opponent’s start was Danny Salazar’s first start against the Tigers, minus the eighth inning home run by Miguel Cabrera.

The Blue Jays got on the board first in the top of the fifth. With their first hit of the game, Kevin Pillar deposited a Boyd offering over the left field wall to give the Blue Jays the 1-0 lead.

The Blue Jays added to their lead in the top of the seventh. Kevin Pillar and Darwin Barney singled to put runners on first and third. Jose Bautista then grounded into a fielder’s choice to bring home a run to give the Blue Jays the 2-0 lead. 

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The Tigers then woke up in the ninth. After a long top of the ninth that yielded no runs, Sanchez could not close out the game. He surrendered a single to Jose Iglesias and a double to Ian Kinsler to end his night. Miguel Cabrera then hit a double to tie the game a 2-2. Cabrera was lifted for a pinch runner, but an intentional walk, a strikeout by J.D. Martinez, and a Nick Castellanos groundout stranded him at second.

The Tigers then won it in the 10^th. Justin Upton hit a single up the middle to lead off the inning. Jarrod Saltalamacchia walked. Jose Iglesias then sacrifice bunted where the Jays could not throw out Upton at third. Kinsler then ended the game with a walkoff single over the third baseman to give the Tigers the 3-2 win.

Next: Why Isn't the Jays-Tigers Rivalry Bigger?

The Tigers and Blue Jays will conclude their series Wednesday afternoon at 1:10 pm eastern time . Jordan Zimmermann will be getting the ball for the Tigers in seek of his ninth win of the season while the Blue Jays will send R.A. Dickey to the hill.