Live Tigers blog: Greene closes door for Detroit win
The Tigers pulled off their first triple play in 16 seasons and Nick Castellanos’ first career start in right field was highlighted by a third-inning grand slam Friday as Detroit beat Toronto, 5-4.
Tigers right-handed starter Buck Farmer (4-2) gave up one earned run in five innings and was aided by reliever Drew VerHagen, who induced a triple-play ball in the sixth inning.
The last time the Tigers pulled a triple play was Aug. 1, 2001 against Seattle. That was completed by Damion Easley-Deivi Cruz-Shane Halter.
This time around, it was Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario, second baseman Ian Kinsler and first baseman Efren Navarro.
Castellanos' grand slam occurred with two outs in the third inning off Blue Jays right-handed starter Marcus Stroman.
Castellanos, who has 21 homers and 84 RBIs this season, made a pair of putouts in right field and looked comfortable in his new position.
Bottom 9: Greene closes game
Tigers right-handed closer Shane Greene struck out Blue Jays left-handed hitter Miguel Montero to give Detroit a 5-4 victory.
Blue Jays pinch-hitter Michael Saunders, also a left-handed batter, drew a two-out walk in the ninth inning off Greene.
Greene retired Kevin Pillar (ground out) and Ryan Goins (line out) to begin the frame.
Goins lined out to Tigers shortstop Dixon Machado, who has made several solid defensive plays tonight.
Top 9: Urena makes solid play to end inning
Blue Jays right-handed reliever Ryan Tepera took the mound in the top of the ninth inning and threw a scoreless frame.
The Tigers lead 5-4 after the top of the ninth in Toronto.
Tepera retired Tigers catcher James McCann (strike out), first baseman Efren Navarro (line out) and left fielder Andrew Romine (ground out).
Blue Jays shortstop Richard Urena made a solid play on Romine’s ground out to end the inning.
Bottom 8: Wilson gives up two solo homers
Tigers right-handed reliever Alex Wilson took the mound in the bottom of the eighth — and the game is suddenly tighter.
Wilson gave up two solo home runs as the Tigers' lead has dwindled to 5-4.
Blue Jays shortstop Richard Urena belted a two-seam fastball for his first career homer to lead off the frame. From there, Wilson struck out Teoscar Hernandez, but then he issued another solo homer, this time to Jose Bautista, who cranked a slider.
Wilson ended the inning by retiring Justin Smoak (fly out) and Kendrys Morales (ground out).
Top 8: Quick inning for Tigers bats
Blue Jays right-handed reliever Tom Koehler earned a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
The Tigers lead 5-2 in Toronto.
In the eighth, Koehler retired Tigers right fielder Nick Castellanos (lined out), designated hitter John Hicks (strike out) and center fielder Mikie Mahtook (fly out).
Bottom 7: Stumpf induces inning-ending double-play ball
Tigers left-handed reliever Daniel Stumpf induced an inning-ending double play to end the seventh inning.
The Tigers lead the Blue Jays 5-2 in Toronto.
In the seventh, Tigers reliever Drew VerHagen gave up a leadoff single to Blue Jays second baseman Ryan Goins and was pulled after retiring Darwin Barney.
That's when Tigers manager Brad Ausmus called for Stumpf, who entered to face pinch-hitter Rob Refsnyder.
Refsnyder hit a grounder to Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler, who flipped to shortstop Dixon Machado to begin a double play.
Top 7: Kinsler hits 16th solo homer
Ian Kinsler belted a solo homer in the top of the seventh inning to give the Tigers a 5-2 lead in Toronto.
Kinsler’s 16th homer of the year came off Blue Jays right-handed reliever Danny Barnes.
Oddly enough, Kinsler’s 16 homers are all solo shots. He’s the second player since 1969 to begin a season with 16 solo home runs (Cincinnati’s Kal Daniels, 1987), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Bottom 6: Tigers pull off first triple play since 2001
Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario, second baseman Ian Kinsler and first baseman Efren Navarro have turned the first Detroit triple play in 16 years.
The Tigers lead 4-2 after the bottom of the sixth.
The last time the Tigers pulled a triple play was Aug. 1, 2001 against Seattle. That was completed by Damion Easley-Deivi Cruz-Shane Halter.
The sixth inning began with Tigers right-handed starter Buck Farmer on the mound. He struck out Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista — but he reached first base when a passed ball eluded Tigers catcher James McCann.
From there, Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak singled to right field, and Kendrys Morales hit an RBI single to cut the Tigers lead to 4-2.
That ended the night for Farmer, who exited with two men on base and none out.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus summoned Drew VerHagen to enter the game in relief. On VerHagen’s second pitch, history happened.
The Blue Jays' Kevin Pillar hit a sharp grounder to Candelario, who made an athletic play to touch the third base bag. One out.
Candelario fired to second baseman Ian Kinsler. Two out.
Kinsler caught and threw to Navarro, who made a slight extension. Triple play.
Top 6: McCann's two-out single goes for naught
Tigers catcher James McCann hit a two-out single in the top of the sixth inning, but first baseman Efren Navarro grounded out to end the inning.
The Tigers lead 4-1 in Toronto.
Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman has retired 10 of the last 11 Tigers he’s faced.
Stroman retired John Hicks (strike out) and Mikie Mahtook (ground out) to start the sixth.
Bottom 5: Fly ball eludes Mahtook, Jays end shutout
The airborne baseball continues to be an issue in the Toronto sky, and it cost the Tigers a run in the fifth inning.
The Tigers lead 4-1 after five innings.
In the fifth, Tigers right-handed starter Buck Farmer gave up a two-out single to Richard Urena. From there, Teoscar Hernandez hit a routine fly ball to center field — at least it appeared that way on camera. But Tigers outfielder Mikie Mahtook lost track of the ball and saw it pop out of his glove as he dove and hit the turf.
The play was ruled a double. Urena scored all the way from first base to end the shutout.
Jose Bautista came into the batter's box, but the inning ended when Farmer threw to second baseman Ian Kinsler, who picked off Hernandez.
Farmer has thrown 68 pitches. He’s struck out two and walked two.
As for the tricky Toronto sky: In the third inning, Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar and Hernandez, the Jays left fielder, had trouble tracking fly balls. Tigers catcher James McCann had trouble with a pop up in the fourth.
Top 5: Stroman retires seven straight
It’s been a hot-and-cold outing tonight for Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman, who has retired seven straight Tigers batters.
The Tigers lead 4-0 after the top of the fifth inning.
In the fifth, Stroman retired Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler (ground out), third baseman Jeimer Candelario (strike out) and Nick Castellanos (ground out).
Stroman has struck out five and started the game by retiring eight straight Tigers. But he issued a third-inning grand slam to Castellanos, who is making his first-ever start in right field.
Bottom 4: Farmer delivers another scoreless frame
Tigers right-hander Buck Farmer has delivered a fourth straight scoreless inning.
The Tigers lead 4-0 after four innings in Toronto, where airborne baseballs continue to be an issue.
In the fourth, Blue Jays designated hitter Kendrys Morales hit a foul pop up behind home plate, which nearly eluded Tigers catcher James McCann – although he made an extended catch for the putout.
From there, Farmer retired Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar (ground out) and second baseman Ryan Goins (pop out).
Goins’ pop out was a flare between shortstop and left field, but it was tracked by Tigers infielder Dixon Machado, who sprinted and slid slightly to make the catch.
Top 4: Stroman throws 1-2-3 inning
One inning after issuing a grand slam, Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman threw a 1-2-3 inning.
The Tigers lead 4-0 after the top of the fourth in Toronto.
In the fourth, Stroman retired Tigers first baseman Efren Navarro (strike out), left fielder Andrew Romine (ground out) and shortstop Dixon Machado (ground out).
Navarro, whose contract was purchased from Triple A Toledo last Friday, is batting 2-for-17 in Detroit.
Bottom 3: Farmer gives up first hit
Tigers right-hander Buck Farmer gave up his first hit of the night when Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista cranked a two-out double, but he managed to exit the inning without any damage.
The Tigers lead 4-0 after three innings in Toronto.
Farmer retired Blue Jays shortstop Richard Urena (ground out) and left fielder Teoscar Hernandez (line out) to begin the frame.
Castellanos has made two putouts in right field.
Farmer has thrown 40 pitches through three innings. He walked consecutive batters in the first inning, but recovered.
Hernandez was inserted for left fielder Steve Pearce (injured back).
Top 3: Castellanos belts grand slam
Nick Castellanos will forever remember his first career start in right field –— especially now that it carries a grand slam in the box score.
Castellanos belted the first pitch he saw from Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman for a grand slam to give the Tigers a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
Stroman recorded back-to-back outs to start the fourth, but Tigers shortstop Dixon Machado belted a double into the right-center field gap. From there, Ian Kinsler singled on the first pitch, and Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario walked on four straight pitches to load the bases.
One pitch later, Castellanos cranked Stroman’s 94-mph fastball to right-center field for his 21st homer of the year.
The inning appeared like it was going to end when Tigers designated hitter John Hicks hit a fly ball to left field. But Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez lost sight of the ball to extend the inning. (In the previous at-bat, Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar lost sight of Castellanos’ home run ball.)
From there, Mikie Mahtook hit an infield single to place two runners on base, but catcher James McCann struck out to end the inning.
Stroman retired eight straight Tigers until Machado’s double.
Castellanos now has 84 RBIs this season.
Bottom 2: Farmer throws another scoreless inning
Tigers right-handed starter Buck Farmer has not seen the fourth inning in three of his past four starts, but he's delivered a pair of scoreless innings tonight.
It’s 0-0 after two innings in Toronto.
In the bottom of the second, Farmer retired Blue Jays second baseman Ryan Goins (ground out), third baseman Darwin Barney (pop out) and catcher Raffy Lopez (fly out).
Farmer has thrown 28 pitches.
Top 2: Six up, six down
Blue Jays right-handed starter Marcus Stroman has retired six consecutive Tigers to start the game.
It’s scoreless after the top of the second inning in Toronto.
In the second, Tigers designated hitter John Hicks grounded out and Mikie Mahtook flied out to the warning track
Stroman struck out Tigers catcher James McCann to end the inning.
Stroman took a 108-mph line drive off his elbow in his previous start (courtesy of Orioles slugger Mark Trumbo), but he’s showing no ill effects.
Bottom 1: Farmer escapes inning
Tigers right-handed starter Buck Farmer delivered an up-and-down inning and managed to escape without yielding a run.
It’s 0-0 after the first inning in Toronto.
Farmer struck out Blue Jays left fielder Steve Pearce to start the frame and then placed right fielder Jose Bautista into an 0-2 hole.
From there, he made it interesting.
Nine of the next 10 pitches Farmer threw missed the strike zone. He walked Bautista, then walked left-handed hitting first baseman Justin Smoak. Two men on, one out.
But Farmer recovered by retiring designated hitter Kendrys Morales and center fielder Kevin Pillar on consecutive fly outs.
Pillar's fly out landed in the glove of Nick Castellanos, who is making his Major League debut in right field.
Top 1: Stroman throws 1-2-3 inning
Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman seeks a career-high 12th victory and is off to a solid start.
It's scoreless after the top of the first inning in Toronto.
Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler struck out on three pitches, third baseman Jeimer Candelario grounded out, and right fielder Nick Castellanos flied out.
Entering tonight, Candelario has hit safely in his six games with the Tigers. He's hitting .381 (8-for-21).
Depleted lineup
The Tigers have not won a season series against the Blue Jays since 2013. And it will be tough to start the opener in the win column, considering Miguel Cabrera (suspension) and Jose Iglesias (paternity leave) are out of the lineup.
In the top of the first inning, Blue Jays right-handed starter Marcus Stroman will face Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler, third baseman Jeimer Candelario and right fielder Nick Castellanos.
Skidding teams
The Tigers open a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday at Rogers Center. Detroit has lost six of its last seven. Meanwhile, Toronto is 3-7 in its last 10 games, dropping its last two.
Right-hander Buck Farmer starts for the Tigers. He allowed five runs on three hits while giving up three walks on three strikeouts in taking the loss in the second game of a doubleheader last week against the Indians.
The Tigers are without shortstop Jose Iglesias who is on paternity leave for the birth of his son.
TIGERS AT BLUE JAYS
First pitch: 7:07, Rogers Centre, Toronto
TV/radio: Fox Sports Detroit/97.1 FM
Pitchers: Tigers, RHP Buck Farmer (3-2, 7.18) vs. Blue Jays, RHP Marcus Stroman (11-6, 3.08)
Records: The Tigers 59-80, in fourth place and 24.5 games behind the Indians in the AL Central. The Blue Jays are 64-76, in fifth place and 15 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East.
LINEUPS
Tigers
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Jeimer Candelario, 3B
3. Nick Castellanos RF
4. John Hicks, DH
5. Mikie Mahtook, CF
6. James McCann, C
7. Efren Navarro, 1B
8. Andrew Romine, LF
9. Dixon Machado, SS
Buck Farmer, SP
Blue Jays
1. Steve Pearce, LF
2. Jose Bautista, RF
3. Justin Smoak, 1B
4. Kendrys Morales, DH
5. Kevin Pillar, CF
6. Ryan Goins, 2B
7. Darwin Barney, 3B
8. Raffy Lopez, C
9. Richard Urena, SS
Marcus Stroman, SP
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