Zach McKinstry scored the go-ahead run from second base on a ninth-inning error as the visiting Detroit Tigers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 on Monday.
Spencer Torkelson led off the ninth with a walk and was forced at second when McKinstry bunted into a fielder’s choice. McKinstry stole second and scored when Toronto closer Louis Varland (5-6) could not handle Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s long throw and was charged with an error on Hao-Yu Lee’s grounder to first.
Kenley Jansen tossed a scoreless bottom of the ninth, ending the game with Alejandro Kirk’s double-play grounder to earn his 20th save and give the Tigers (71-79) their fifth straight win. Detroit reliever Tyler Kinley (7-5) pitched a perfect eighth inning.
Kazuma Okamoto hit a three-run homer for the Blue Jays (75-76), who remained one game behind the Cleveland Guardians (76-75) in the race for the third American League wild card.
Toronto scored twice in the first inning against Troy Melton. Brett Bateman led off by slicing a single to left and George Springer walked. The runners advanced on Guerrero’s bouncer to second. Kirk hit an RBI single, and another run scored on a wild pitch.
Melton allowed two runs, five hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.
Meanwhile, Toronto’s Jose Soriano was working on a perfect game.
McKinstry walked with one out in the sixth to become Detroit’s first runner.
Soriano’s no-hitter was gone when Gleyber Torres lined a single to center to lead off the seventh. Riley Greene followed with a single to right-center to put runners at the corners for Dillon Dingler, who lined an RBI single to left.
The Tigers took the lead with one out when Max Clark sliced a two-run double down the left field line that eluded Myles Straw’s sliding attempt. Torkelson stretched the lead to 4-2 when he doubled into the left field corner.
Soriano allowed four runs, five hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
Toronto regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh against Kyle Finnegan. Springer and Kirk singled before Okamoto belted an 0-2 fastball to left for his 33rd homer of the season.
Kevin McGonigle and Greene singled against Toronto’s Joe Mantiply to put runners at the corners with one out in the eighth. With two outs, Varland allowed Brett Callahan’s game-tying single to left.
