Stroman delivers, Smoak goes deep
At the midway point of the Blue Jays’ season, Marcus Stroman earned his first win of the year.
The 27-year-old right-hander, who missed more than six weeks with shoulder fatigue, gave up two runs through seven innings in Friday night’s 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers, — Toronto’s 81st game of the season.
Stroman has allowed just the two runs since his return from injury last Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels, pitching a total of 12 innings. His earned run average dropped from 6.80 to 6.20 in the opening game of this series and he earned his 500th strikeout as a Blue Jay in the fifth inning, ringing up Tigers catcher James McCann to become the 21st pitcher in franchise history to reach that milestone. A two-run home run from Justin Smoak, his first since June 3, sparked the offence for the Blue Jays, who managed eight hits to the Tigers’ six but left seven runners on base.
On the mound for Detroit was a familiar face in Francisco Liriano, who made 18 starts for Toronto last year before he was shipped to the Houston Astros in the deal that brought Teoscar Hernandez to the Blue Jays.
Toronto has struggled mightily against lefty starters this year, losing 14 of their last 15 and 21 of 30 overall before Friday. Liriano gave up three runs on seven hits over six innings. He walked four, struck out three and was ultimately saddled with the loss.
The Tigers led1-0 heading into the fourth inning, when Liriano faced all nine Blue Jays hitters. The first six reached base, with the only out recorded when Yangervis Solarte, who led it off, was tagged out trying to go first to third on a Kendrys Morales single.
Smoak cashed in Morales with a dinger to left field to put Toronto ahead 2-1. Kevin Pillar later scored on a fielder’s choice to extend that margin but the home team left the bases loaded.
That made for a tight finish after Stroman gave up a solo home run to Detroit third baseman Jeimer Candelario in the seventh, but reliever Seunghwan Oh struck out the side in the eighth and Tyler Clippard came on to earn the save, his fifth of the season.
The return to health by Stroman — who walked none and threw 65 of 90 pitches for strikes — is particularly welcome given the fact that Aaron Sanchez continues to struggle with a bruise on his right index finger. Sanchez was still experiencing tenderness in the joint on Friday and had yet to start throwing.
Ryan Borucki is expected to make his second big-league start in Sanchez’s place in Monday’s series finale.