The Detroit Tigers cruised to an 11-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon to win the series two games to three. Prince Fielder led the way for the Tigers, going two-for-two at the plate with two walks and four runs batted in.
The Tigers used a five-run second inning to cruise past the Blue Jays Thursday, ending Josh Johnson’s start much earlier than expected. Johnson didn’t make it out of the second inning, and was relieved by Edgar Gonzalez after giving up six runs off seven hits.
Gonzalez pitched well in relief until the fifth inning when he walked shortstop Johnny Peralta and gave up a single to Alex Avila. Esmil Rodgers came into the game to clean up Gonzalez’s mess, but couldn’t hold off the Tigers as four more runs crossed the plate.
Prince Fielder doubled home Austin Jackson and Torii Hunter in the fifth, and added another RBI in the seventh to cap off the Tigers’ 11-1 win over the Blue Jays. Last season’s Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera scored twice in the Tigers’ win while going one-for-four at the plate with one run batted in.
Doug Fister got the start for the Tigers and gave up one run in eight strong innings of work. Fister stuck out five on the way to his second win of the season, as he won his first outing against the New York Yankees last Friday.
The Blue Jays left 17 runners on base on against the Tigers Thursday, and have now lost each of their first three series to start the season. The Blue Jays made a major splash in the trade market this offseason by acquiring Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson, and Jose Reyes from the Miami Marlins, but haven’t played up to expectation to start the season.
With only three wins in their first nine games, the Blue Jays have dropped to the bottom of the competitive American League East. The Blue Jays next face the Kansas City Royals in a three-game series starting Friday, while the Tigers move on to face the red-hot Oakland Athletics .
The Tigers are projected to win the AL Central this season and are currently just one game back of the Royals for first place. After a solid start to April, the Tigers now head West for a nine-game road stand starting Friday with the A’s.
Can the Detroit Tigers play well enough on the road to keep pace with the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central?
[Image via Keith Allison ]