Jays aim for .500 mark, series win vs. MLB-best Tigers

The Toronto Blue Jays will take the momentum of a walk-off win into Sunday afternoon for the rubber match of their three-game series against the visiting Detroit Tigers.

Ernie Clement delivered the game-winning single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday to give Toronto a 2-1 victory.

The Blue Jays, who are one game under .500, and the Tigers, who have the best record in the major leagues, have split the first two games.

“I’ve failed so many times in that situation that there’s nothing to be afraid of,” Clement said. “It’s nice to come through.”

Manager John Schneider feels it will be a confidence builder for the Blue Jays to have won in that manner “against a team that’s playing really, really well.”

He added: “These guys know that they’re good; they know they can play with anyone.”

“It gives everybody confidence,” Clement said.

Clement’s hit also could have implications for Sunday. By avoiding extra innings, it saved further extending an already stretched bullpen.

“You’re almost out of pitching; you kind of want it to happen right then and there, and it does,” Schneider said.

The Tigers hope they can regain their offensive prowess in the finale. Their run on Saturday came on Spencer Torkelson’s second-inning homer against Eric Lauer, the first of six Toronto pitchers. Colt Keith followed with a double but the Tigers could not tack on more runs and had only a single and two walks the rest of the game.

“There was a lot in this game,” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. “Whether it was us not tacking on early, then there was not a ton of action. They did a bullpen game and their guys came in and got a lot of outs.”

The Blue Jays are scheduled to start Jose Berrios (1-1, 4.33 ERA) on Sunday as they try to improve to 3-3 on a nine-game homestand. The right-hander is 7-3 with a 4.32 ERA in 15 career games (14 starts) against the Tigers. He is the brother-in-law of Detroit center fielder Javier Baez.

Detroit is expected to counter with Jackson Jobe (3-0, 4.32), a rookie right-hander who has not faced the Blue Jays.

The Tigers used four relievers on Saturday, more than expected when right-hander Reese Olson was pitching so well, effectively mixing in a changeup.

Olson allowed one hit and one walk in six innings before being removed with what he thinks might have been a cramp in the ring finger of his right hand.

“I think it probably would have been fine,” Olson said. “Everyone is playing it safe. I’ve never had this before. It started bothering me later in the outing, a little bit of irritation.”

Toronto’s Anthony Santander made his first appearance of the series in the ninth inning on Saturday as a pinch hitter. With Daulton Varsho on third and two outs, Santander was intentionally walked despite struggling all season. That set up Clement’s heroics.

Schneider gave Santander the day off on Friday to help him clear his head and to rest a sore shoulder. The veteran slugger was not in the starting lineup on Saturday because of a sore hip.

Santander is 1-for-12 in his past three starts.

“He’s frustrated with his performance and with nagging stuff,” Schneider said.

–Field Level Media