DETROIT (AP) — Michael Fulmer pitched eight strong innings and J.D. Martinez drove in five runs as the Detroit Tigers went on to an 11-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night.
Nicholas Castellanos, Miguel Cabrera and Martinez homered for the Tigers.
Fulmer (10-6) won his fourth straight start, giving up one run and two hits while walking one and striking out three.
Kendrys Morales had a clean single in the second inning, but the Blue Jays didn’t get another hit until Troy Tulowitzki’s infield single in the eighth.
Francisco Liriano (5-5) took the loss, allowing five runs, three hits and four walks in two-plus innings. He struck out two.
Castellanos gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the first with his 11th homer, and Jose Iglesias made it 2-0 with an RBI single in the second.
Liriano lost the strike zone in the third. He started the inning by walking Castellanos, Justin Upton and Cabrera, then went 2-0 on Martinez before coming out with neck tightness.
Mike Bolsinger entered the game, and Martinez hit his first pitch for a two-run single. Mikie Mahtook made it 5-0 later in the inning with a sacrifice fly.
Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays led off the fourth with a walk, took second on a wild pitch and scored on groundouts by Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson.
The Tigers regained their five-run lead in the sixth when Upton’s groundout scored Iglesias. Cabrera followed with a two-run homer to left, making it 8-1.
Martinez hit a three-run homer off Aaron Loup in the eighth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: Reliever Joe Smith (shoulder) threw a scoreless inning Friday night for Triple-A Buffalo, and is scheduled to pitch for them again on Sunday before returning to the Blue Jays for their series against Boston.
Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris (groin) threw a bullpen session on Saturday, but will throw again on Sunday before the Tigers decide if he’s healthy enough to start Tuesday in Kansas City.
UNWANTED SUCCESS
Cabrera got one of the most frustrating base hits of his career in the fourth inning. With Upton on second and two outs, Cabrera hit a 108-mph groundball to the left side of the infield, but the ball hit Upton’s heel, meaning that he was automatically out while Cabrera was credited with a single.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (4-6, 5.17 ERA) will start the series finale on Sunday afternoon. Estrada won his only start against the Tigers, beating them 10-5 on July 5, 2015 at Comerica Park.
Tigers: RHP Anibal Sanchez (1-0, 5.89 ERA) will try to continue his renaissance on Sunday. After going to the minors in May, Sanchez has gone 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA in four starts since rejoining the rotation in June.
