Alec Manoah leads the Blue Jays past the Tigers in turn

Manoah threw 19 first pitch hits to his 23 batters—a career high of 82.6%. His eight strikeouts were a season high, and he didn’t walk many.

Manoah returned to the mound after being sent down on June 6 to the rookie level after struggling to start 2023. He qualified for the 2022 All-Star and American League Cy Young After going 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA in 31 starts, he entered Friday 1-7 with a 6.36 ERA.

Whit Merrifield hit four runs for Toronto, which improved to 15-5 against American League Central teams, while the Tigers fell to 2-15 against the AL East.

George Springer added a home run and three RBIs for Toronto, which sent 10 hits to the plate in six fourth innings and 11 in nine of five innings. Kevin Kiermayer had four hits.

Alex Faidou (1-5) took the loss in his first start since June 2. He allowed 7 runs in 3 innings in his return from a finger injury.

The Blue Jays took the lead on third down. Kiermaier singled with two and Springer followed with an RBI double.

Spencer Turkelson’s RBI single tied it in the bottom of the third, but the Blue Jays scored with a six-out in the fourth.

Toronto loaded the bases on one walk and two outs, and Merrifield made it 2–1 on an RBI single. Farshaw emerged, but Danny Jansen struck out twice.

Kiermayer’s ground ball gave the Blue Jays a four-run lead, while Springer’s home run made it 7–1.

Matt Ferling’s third single sealed Detroit’s 7–2 lead in the eighth, but Merrifield’s three-run homer capped the ninth with five runs. Tigers catcher Zack Short got the last three outs without allowing a run.

Information from the Associated Press is used in this report.