Guerrero’s first slam helps Jays top Tigers

When rookie third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came to the plate with the bases loaded, there was an air of anticipation at Comerica Park.

Toronto and Detroit are a combined 60 games under .500, but this was still a moment to remember.

Guerrero hit his first career grand slam, a 441foot drive toward the bushes that helped the Blue Jays rally for a 75 victory over the host Tigers on Saturday night. The home run erased a 51 deficit in the fifth, and Brandon Drury added a tworun shot an inning later to put Toronto ahead.

“It was a good pitch to hit,” Guerrero said through an interpreter. “He gave me my pitch, and I hit it pretty good.”

It was the ninth bigleague homer for Guerrero, who had three hits Friday and two Saturday.

“That’s the Vladdy that we know,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said.

Guerrero came into the year as one of the game’s top prospects, but his debut season has been uneven. He’s hitting .249 with an OPS of .729.

“He’s 20 years old, and he’s going to have his ups and downs, but he’s always going to find a way to smile,” Montoyo said. “That’s just who he is.”

Dodgers 10, Marlins 6: Host Los Angeles blew a 6-0 lead before rookie Matt Beaty hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning. Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw allowed two hits and a walk in six shutout innings and struck out 10.

Yankees 11, Rockies 5: Edwin Encarnacion chased Anthony Senzatela with a two-run double in a five-run second inning, and host New York romped over Colorado for its fifth straight win.

Cubs 6, Padres 5: Javier Baez hit a go-ahead, three-run homer and four Cubs relievers combined for one-hit ball over the final four innings, lifting Chicago over San Diego at Wrigley Field.

Astros 6, Rangers 1: Rookie Jose Urquidy threw seven dominant innings for his first major-league win and Yuli Gurriel hit a threerun homer, sending host Houston over Texas, loser of six in a row.

White Sox 2, Rays 1: Yoan Moncada scored from first base on a single in the 11th inning and visiting Chicago beat Tampa Bay.

Red Sox 17, Orioles 6: Jackie Bradley Jr. hit two three-run homers, Mookie Betts homered and had three RBIs, and visiting Boston posted its highest run total of the season.

Pirates 5, Phillies 1: Joe Musgrove scattered two hits over six innings, collected his first double of the season and scored on a head-first slide as host Pittsburgh beat Philadelphia.

Royals 1, Indians 0: Hunter Dozier homered in the first inning and Jakob Junis pitched two-hit ball through six innings as visiting Kansas City snapped Cleveland’s six-game winning streak.

Reds 3, Cardinals 2: Yasiel Puig hit a game-tying double to end Miles Mikolas’ shutout bid in the seventh inning, then Josh VanMeter followed with his first big-league homer for host Cincinnati.

Nationals 5, Braves 3: Anibal Sanchez outpitched Mike Soroka and scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning, Matt Adams homered and visiting Washington beat Atlanta. The Nationals are 33-14 since May 24. Atlanta has dropped four of five.

Brewers 8, Diamondbacks 3: Mike Moustakas hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and Milwaukee scored six runs after Zack Greinke left to beat host Arizona.

Angels 6, Mariners 2: David Fletcher hit a go-ahead single in the ninth inning, then Mike Trout followed with a three-run homer for visiting Los Angeles.