The Detroit Tigers ended their three-game skid in dramatic fashion Friday night, as Spencer Torkelson delivered a clutch two-out RBI single in the ninth inning to lift his team to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
The game was tied 2-2 heading into the final frame when Matt Vierling led off with a bloop single. After Gage Workman struck out, Vierling swiped second base to put himself in scoring position. Blue Jays reliever Jeff Hoffman (2-3) then made a calculated decision: he intentionally walked left-handed hitter Zach McKinstry to set up a righty-on-righty matchup with Torkelson. But the Tigers' slugger spoiled that strategy, lacing an opposite-field hit to bring home the winning run.
Riley Greene continued his scorching hot streak, extending his hitting run to 10 games—the longest active streak in the majors—with an RBI double. The outfielder has now reached base safely in a career-high 25 consecutive contests, providing a steady spark in the heart of Detroit's lineup.
Dillon Dingler reached base three times and scored a run, while Drew Anderson was brilliant in relief, allowing just one hit over four scoreless innings. Kenley Jansen (1-2) worked a clean ninth to earn the win.
For the Blue Jays, the defending American League champions are mired in a rough patch, having lost eight of their last 11 games to fall to 19-25. Starter Trey Yesavage was solid, striking out six over six innings while allowing two runs, but his three wild pitches proved costly. Andres Gimenez drove in both Toronto runs with a double.
The game took a scary turn in the third inning when Tigers reliever Ty Madden was struck on his pitching arm by a line drive off the bat of Yohendrick Pinango and was forced to leave the game.
Toronto jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second on Gimenez's two-out, two-run double off Brant Hurter. But Detroit chipped away: Kevin McGonigle scored in the third on a wild pitch, and Greene tied it in the sixth with his double.
Looking ahead to Saturday's middle game of the series, the Tigers will activate right-hander Casey Mize (2-2, 2.90 ERA) from the 15-day injured list to start. The Blue Jays have yet to announce a starter but are expected to turn to righty Spencer Miles (1-0, 3.00) for multiple innings.