Surging Blue Jays beat slumping Tigers in a matchup of 1st-place teams going in opposite directions
baseball
By LARRY LAGE
Ernie Clement and Joey Loperfido hit back-to back hit home runs in the fifth inning to help the surging Toronto Blue Jays rout the slumping Detroit Tigers 11-4 on Thursday night in a matchup of first-place teams going in opposite directions.
The AL East-leading Blue Jays have won 19 of their last 24 games, and the AL Central-leading Tigers have lost 10 of 11.
Clement's three-run home run gave Toronto a 4-1 lead and Loperfido followed with a soaring, solo shot to right field.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a game-tying double in the sixth to bring home the first of five runs in the inning. Guerrero's RBI double in the four-run seventh helped the Blue Jays pull away with a 9-1 lead.
The Blue Jays didn't let up, going ahead 11-1 in the eighth on Nathan Lukes' two-run homer.
Jahmai Jones hit a solo homer to give Detroit a 1-0 lead in the first. The Tigers didn't generate more offense until it was too late in the ninth, when Spencer Torkeson hit his 22nd homer in a three-run inning against right-hander Chad Green.
Eric Lauer (6-2) allowed one run on five hits without a walk while striking out six in a season-high eight innings.
Reese Olson (4-4) gave up five runs on six hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings after throwing four scoreless innings. Dietrich Enns replaced him and got roughed up, allowing four runs. Geoff Hartlieb gave up two more runs in one inning after being recalled from Triple-A Toledo to replace right-hander Carlos Hernandez, who was designated for assignment.
Clement hit Olson's hanging slider over the left-field wall for a three-run homer in the pivotal sixth inning.
The Blue Jays have won nine straight series openers and are 22-13 in the first game of a series this season.
Toronto RHP Jose Berrios (6-4) and Detroit RHP Keider Montero (4-2) are the probable pitchers Friday in the second matchup in the four-game series.
© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
3 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Yamamoto pitches Dodgers to win, backed by Ohtani's 2 RBIs
CINCINNATI, Ohio (Kyodo) -- Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out nine over seven strong innings and Shohei Ohtani drove in two runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 5-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. Yamamoto (9-7) allowed one run on four hits and two walks in his latest quality start. The right-hander threw 65 of his 101 pitches for strikes and took his ERA for his last three starts to 0.95. He gave up his only run on a force-out in the first inning but kept the Reds in check for the rest of his time on the mound. "I was able to outwit batters," said Yamamoto, who credited catcher Dalton Rushing for calling a strong game. "Rushing thought things through and brought out some good pitches. I felt great and pitched with a nice rhythm. It was a very productive outing." Ohtani broke a 1-1 deadlock with his two-RBI double in the top of the fifth, driving a 1-0 fastball from Cincinnati starter Chase Burns (0-3) into the gap in center field. The three-time MVP also drew two walks in his 1-for-3 outing. Teoscar Hernandez contributed two RBIs, Freddie Freeman drove in a run, and Mookie Betts went 2-for-3 as the top of the Los Angeles lineup clicked into gear at the Great American Ball Park. Ohtani scored on Freeman's seventh-inning single for the Japanese superstar's Major League Baseball-leading 100th run, reaching the threshold for the third straight season.
Japan Today
10 hours ago
- Japan Today
Ohtani's two-run double extends hitting streak as Dodgers defeat Reds 5-2
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani watches his double to score Miguel Rojas and Mookie Betts during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, July 28, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) By JOE REEDY Shohei Ohtani extended his hitting streak to nine games with a two-run double in the fifth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds 5-2 on Monday night. Dodgers' right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (9-7) went seven innings for the fifth time this season and struck out nine while Teoscar Hernández had two hits and drove in a pair of runs. Reds rookie Chase Burns (0-3) had his third straight game with 10 strikeouts, but is still seeking his first win in the majors. The right-hander gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings. Cincinnati tried to put together a rally in the ninth. Will Benson had an RBI single and the Reds had the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth but Jack Dreyer came on and got Matt McLain to ground out to short to end the game for his first big-league save. Miguel Rojas led off the fifth with a double and Mookie Betts got aboard with a one-out base hit before Ohtani hit a line-drive double to center off a 99.4 mph fastball by Burns to put the Dodgers up 3-1. Ohtani is batting .306 (11 for 36) with nine runs scored and 13 RBIs during his hitting streak. Yamamoto didn't allow a hit after the third inning and retired 14 of the last 15 Cincinnati batters he faced. Ohtani scored his MLB-leading 100th run of the season during the seventh inning when he scored on Freddie Freeman's base hit to right field to extend the Dodgers' lead to 5-1. Burns is the second Cincinnati pitcher since 1900 to have double-digit strikeouts in three straight starts. The other was Raisel Iglesias in 2015. Dodgers' RHP Tyler Glasnow (1-1, 2.75 ERA) matches up against Reds' LHP Nick Lodolo (8-6, 3.08) in the middle game of the series. Lodolo had a complete-game shutout in his last start on July 23 at Washington. AP MLB: © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Asahi Shimbun
14 hours ago
- Asahi Shimbun
MLB/ Ohtani's two-run double extends hitting streak as Dodgers defeat Reds 5-2
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani watches his double to score Miguel Rojas and Mookie Betts during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, July 28, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) CINCINNATI--Shohei Ohtani extended his hitting streak to nine games with a two-run double in the fifth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds 5-2 on Monday night. Dodgers' right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (9-7) went seven innings for the fifth time this season and struck out nine while Teoscar Hernández had two hits and drove in a pair of runs. Reds rookie Chase Burns (0-3) had his third straight game with 10 strikeouts but is still seeking his first win in the majors. The right-hander gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings. Cincinnati tried to put together a rally in the ninth. Will Benson had an RBI single and the Reds had the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth but Jack Dreyer came on and got Matt McLain to ground out to short to end the game for his first big-league save. Miguel Rojas led off the fifth with a double and Mookie Betts got aboard with a one-out base hit before Ohtani hit a line-drive double to center off a 99.4 mph fastball by Burns to put the Dodgers up 3-1. Ohtani is batting .306 (11 for 36) with nine runs scored and 13 RBIs during his hitting streak. Yamamoto didn't allow a hit after the third inning and retired 14 of the last 15 Cincinnati batters he faced. Ohtani scored his MLB-leading 100th run of the season during the seventh inning when he scored on Freddie Freeman's base hit to right field to extend the Dodgers' lead to 5-1. Burns is the second Cincinnati pitcher since 1900 to have double-digit strikeouts in three straight starts. The other was Raisel Iglesias in 2015. Dodgers' RHP Tyler Glasnow (1-1, 2.75 ERA) matches up against Reds' LHP Nick Lodolo (8-6, 3.08) in the middle game of the series. Lodolo had a complete-game shutout in his last start on July 23 at Washington.
