Detroit Tigers vs Toronto Blue Jays Box Score on Sep 09, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 9, 2017

TORONTO -- Kevin Pillar hit the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, left-hander Brett Anderson pitched six effective innings and the Toronto Blue Jays held on to defeat the Detroit Tigers 5-4 on Saturday.

Pillar also had an RBI single among his four hits and made a spectacular catch against the center-field wall in the fifth inning as the Blue Jays (65-77) ended a three-game losing streak.

Miguel Cabrera homered for the Tigers (60-81).

Detroit starter Chad Bell allowed five hits, three walks and two runs in 4 2/3 innings and did not factor in the decision. The left-hander struck out five and hit a batter.

Anderson (1-1 with Toronto, 3-3 overall) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings in his third start with the Blue Jays. He struck out five and walked none

Ryan Tepera entered the game in the ninth and recorded his second save of the season despite allowing an RBI double to Nick Castellanos and an RBI single to James McCann.

Cabrera marked his return from a six-game suspension for his part in a brawl with the New York Yankees by hitting his 15th homer in the first inning to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

The Blue Jays scored once in the first.

Richard Urena led off with a walk and was forced at second on a grounder to third by Jose Bautista. Kendrys Morales singled with two out and Pillar followed with an RBI single.

The Blue Jays tied the game at 2 in the fourth. Morales walked, Pillar singled and was forced at second in a grounder to second by Teoscar Hernandez. Morales scored from third when Hernandez was caught stealing with Ryan Goins batting.

Bell left with two out in the fifth with Ryan Goins and Bautista at first and second. Warwick Saupold (3-2) replaced Bell and walked Justin Smoak to load the bases, but Morales grounded out to second.

Pillar led off the bottom of the sixth with his 15th home run. After Darwin Barney hit a one-out single, Daniel Stumpf replaced Saupold and allowed a two-out RBI single to Luke Maile to give Toronto a 4-2 lead.

Carlos Ramirez replaced Anderson and pitched a perfect seventh and Dominic Leone followed with a perfect eighth for Toronto.

The Blue Jays added a run in the eighth against Blaine Hardy on a double by Maile and a single by Bautista.

NOTES: Toronto 3B Josh Donaldson (illness) missed his second straight game Saturday and LF Steve Pearce (stiff lower back), who left the game Friday after the first inning, also was not in the Blue Jays lineup Saturday. ... Detroit 3B Nick Castellanos started for the second straight game in right field, his first outfield appearances since 2013 when he played nine games in left field. ... Detroit OF Mikie Mahtook (sore left groin) was a late scratch Saturday and INF Andrew Romine took his place in left field.