DETROIT (AP) — Nicholas Castellanos led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a home run, and the Detroit Tigers snapped their six-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.
The Tigers won for only the eighth time in their last 41 games — and this victory didn’t come easily. Closer Shane Greene allowed a tying, two-run homer by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the ninth, but Castellanos connected on the first pitch thrown by Tim Mayza (0-1) for his 11th homer of the season.
Nick Ramirez (5-3) pitched a scoreless top of the 10th for Detroit.
Tyler Alexander pitched seven impressive innings and JaCoby Jones homered for the Tigers. Alexander held Toronto to a run and three hits, but his first career win slipped away in the ninth. Greene, who entered with a 1.03 ERA, allowed a drive to left-center by Gurriel that tied the game at 3.
Toronto scored in the first on an RBI double by Gurriel, but Detroit tied it in the second when a run came home on Bobby Wilson’s double-play grounder. The Blue Jays tried to turn a 5-4-3 triple play when Wilson hit a grounder to third with the bases loaded, but the throw to first was late.
Jeimer Candelario put Detroit up 2-1 with an RBI groundout in the third, and Jones hit his 10th homer of the year in the fifth.
The Tigers recalled the 25-year-old Alexander from Triple-A Toledo before the game. He did not allow a baserunner after the third inning and faced just three batters over the minimum through seven.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: RHP Ryan Borucki (left elbow inflammation) is set to make his season debut as Monday’s starter. He made four rehab starts at three different levels, allowing six earned runs in 18 innings.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: Borucki takes the mound when Toronto hosts Cleveland on Monday night. Mike Clevinger (3-2) starts for the Indians.
Tigers: Detroit has Monday off before two home games against Philadelphia. Matthew Boyd (6-8) takes the mound for the Tigers on Tuesday night against Aaron Nola (8-2).
