Toronto, ON (Sports Network) – Austin Jackson hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh to back Brad Penny’s solid start, as the Detroit Tigers topped the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-2, in the third game of a four-game series.
Penny (3-3) allowed just two runs and seven hits in 7 2/3 innings for Detroit, which has won five of its last six, including Justin Verlander’s no-hitter in Saturday’s 9-0 win.
Jose Valverde recorded his 200th save of his career, striking out three straight batters to end the game.
Jose Bautista, who returned to the lineup after missing the last six games with a stiff neck, belted a two-run homer for Toronto.
Jo-Jo Reyes (0-3) suffered another loss, allowing five runs on eight hits in seven-plus innings for the Blue Jays, who have dropped six of their last seven games.
Jackson’s second home run of the season also brought around Brandon Inge to hand the Tigers a 4-2 lead in the seventh.
Miguel Cabrera added an insurance run in the eighth with his first hit of the series, driving in pinch runner Don Kelly with a single.
Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, but never found the scoreboard again. Penny served an elevated sinker to Bautista, who blasted the pitch into the base of the left field second deck.
Detroit, though, got the two runs back during the top of the fourth. Victor Martinez hit a two-out RBI double and scored on Jhonny Peralta’s single.
Penny improved 4-1 against the Blue Jays in his 12-year career…Valverde, who recorded his seventh save of the season, is the 41st player to record 200 saves…The Toronto Blue Jays activated second baseman Aaron Hill, who went 1- for-4, from the 15-day disabled list before the game. Hill had been sidelined since April 20 with a strained right hamstring…To make room on the 25-man roster, Toronto optioned infielder Mike McCoy to Triple-A Las Vegas.