Jansen, Lukes lead Blue Jays to dramatic win over Tigers

DETROIT - DETROIT (AP) — Nathan Lukes’ RBI double in the 10th inning helped the Toronto Blue Jays finish off a 4-3 comeback victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

The Blue Jays trailed 3-1 with two outs in the ninth, but Matt Chapman walked and Danny Jansen hit a homer over the Toronto bullpen in left-centerfield.

"You are never thinking about trying to hit a homer, but after Chappy worked for the walk, I wanted to have that good of an at-bat," Jansen said. "It was an awesome feeling to watch that ball go over the fence. We were that close to losing a second game in a row, and now we’ve got a great win to finish the first half."

DETROIT, MI - JULY 9: Danny Jansen #9 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a two-run home run to tie the game against the Detroit Tigers at 3-3 during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on July 9, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Ima

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The home run, his 11th of the season, came off Tigers closer Alex Lange, who finished Detroit’s combined no-hitter with a perfect ninth inning on Saturday.

"He got beat with a fastball, and that’s a tough way to lose," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "Alex was so electric last night and he looked the same tonight until the walk and the homer."

Daulton Varsho started the 10th with a grounder to second and Zack Short threw out extra runner Alejandro Kirk at third, but Lukes followed with an RBI double off José Cisnero (2-2). Lukes was making his first MLB at-bat since June 13 and hit his first major-league double.

"You can’t say enough about what he did there," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "He hasn’t had played much lately, and he gets that hit against a really good closer."

Jordan Romano retired the Tigers in order for his 26th save.

Tarik Skubal pitched four scoreless innings in his second start since missing 11 months with an elbow sprain. He allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five.

"You can’t replicate big-league innings anywhere else - 50 pitches here isn’t like 50 pitches anywhere else," Skubal said. "It was important to come back slowly, but my body has responded well. This feels good."

The Tigers are 3-16 against the American League East this season.

The Blue Jays quickly prevented a second no-hitter as Whit Merrifield flicked Skubal’s second pitch into shallow centerfield. It was also the first hit Skubal had allowed this season after he pitched four hitless innings in his return.

Miguel Cabrera gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead with an RBI single - his 3,128th career hit - in the second and Riley Greene made it 2-0 with a solo homer in the third.

Zach McKinstry, Greene and Spencer Torkelson all singled to start the fifth, giving Detroit a 3-0 lead and ending Bassitt’s day. Greene has reached base six times - four hits and two walks in nine plate appearances since returning Saturday from a leg injury.

Chapman led off the seventh with a triple and scored on Kirk’s groundout, cutting the margin to 3-1.

SAFETY OVER SPEED

Schneider said he briefly considered using an athletic pitcher to run for Kirk in the 10th, but decided to stick with his catcher. Kirk has never tripled or attempted a steal in his four-year career.

"(Yusei) Kikuchi is always bragging about his speed - he even has a sliding guard for his hand - but I only considered it for about two seconds," Schneider said. "I don’t want anyone to get hurt, and on the road you are playing for multiple runs."

A LONG STREAK

Skubal has gone 26 innings without allowing an earned run - a streak that will have been over a year old by the time he makes his next start. Skubal finished his July 13 start against the Kansas City Royals with a scoreless sixth inning, then pitched 17 straight innings without an earned run before his last appearance on Aug. 1.

He has pitched four scoreless innings in each of his starts since returning from injury.