Story by
Mark Canha snaps home run drought to help Detroit Tigers win slugfest vs. Blue Jays, 5-4
- Story by
- Mark Canha snaps home run drought to help Detroit Tigers win slugfest vs. Blue Jays, 5-4
TORONTO — Detroit Tigers veteran Mark Canha played 48 games without a home run.
The 35-year-old, who has been struggling on offense for the past three months, snapped the home run drought in the fourth inning of Friday's slugfest against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
Advertisement
His two-run home run off right-hander Chris Bassitt helped the Tigers take down the Blue Jays, 5-4, in Friday's opener of a three-game series (and a seven-game road trip) to open the second half of the season. Eight of Friday's nine runs were scored on home runs.
The Tigers (48-50) also received a boost from right-hander Jack Flaherty pitching into the sixth inning with eight strikeouts and rookie Wenceel Pérez homering in the seventh inning.
Detroit Tigers designated hitter Mark Canha (21) hits a two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Friday, July 19, 2024.
RELIEF ACE: Tigers' Maeda reacts to new bullpen role, dominant first relief appearance
The Tigers and Blue Jays traded home runs throughout Friday's clash, totaling four homers. The final home run, from Toronto's George Springer , trimmed the Tigers' lead to 5-4 in the eighth inning, but right-handed reliever Jason Foley and left-handed reliever Tyler Holton took over and slammed the door in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.
Advertisement
Holton recorded his third save of the season in the ninth.
The homer party began with Canha in the fourth inning. He turned on Bassitt's middle-in changeup for a 384-foot two-run home run to left field.
His big swing put the Tigers ahead, 3-0.
Canha hit five home runs in his first 23 games with the Tigers, then hit No. 6 in the Tigers' 39th game, on May 11. Friday marked the end of a 48-game stretch without a homer.
He entered Friday hitting .202 with a .550 OPS since May 1, a span of 55 games.
Before Canha's homer, Riley Greene put the Tigers ahead, 1-0, in the fourth inning with an RBI single to score Matt Vierling , who opened the inning with a double.
Advertisement
Canha finished 1-for-3 with one walk and two strikeouts.
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts ( Apple , Spotify ) ]
Jack Flaherty solid despite big swing
Flaherty took a perfect game into the fifth inning.
And the veteran right-hander dominated against the Blue Jays until his final pitch with two strikes and two outs in the sixth inning.
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty (9) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Friday, July 19, 2024.
JEFF SEIDEL: Jim Leyland's Baseball Hall of Fame career came down to a man not afraid of his emotions
A big swing from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. , though, spoiled the final line of a brilliant performance from Flaherty, who allowed two runs on three hits and one walk with eight strikeouts across 5⅔ innings. His 98th and final pitch landed in the stands in left field.
Advertisement
Guerrero hit a middle-middle slider from Flaherty for a two-run home run, cutting the Tigers' deficit to 3-2. He crushed the ball 445 feet with a 117.5 mph exit velocity. The homer occurred after Flaherty walked rookie Spencer Horwitz on six pitches.
Flaherty, though, continued his dominance as a top trade candidate despite the home run in the sixth. The 28-year-old maintained his 3.13 ERA through 17 starts, and his pitches looked sharp in his second start since returning from a back injury.
The Blue Jays couldn't hit Flaherty's secondary pitches until the mistake to Guerrero.
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) hits a two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers during the sixth inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Friday, July 19, 2024.
Before the sixth, the Blue Jays didn't put a runner on base until Bo Bichette 's leadoff single in the fifth inning. He won a nine-pitch battle with a single down the first-base line to break up Flaherty's perfect game.
Advertisement
Flaherty stranded two runners in the fifth inning by striking out back-to-back batters. He struck out Alejandro Kirk looking with a fastball painted on the outside edge, then he struck out Ernie Clement swinging with a down-and-away curveball.
After Guererro's homer, right-handed reliever Will Vest replaced Flaherty.
More home runs
The Tigers answered the home run in the seventh inning.
Pérez hit a two-run home run — extending the Tigers' lead to 5-2 — over the wall in right-center field with two outs in the seventh. He hit a first-pitch sinker to chase Bassitt from his start.
It was Pérez's sixth homer in 2024.
The Blue Jays, of course, countered Pérez's home run in the eighth inning with Springer's two-run home run off right-handed reliever Beau Brieske .
Advertisement
Springer turned on a hanging, middle-in changeup.
The homer from Springer trimmed the Tigers' lead to 5-4.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple , Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers ride pair of 2-run homers to 5-4 win over Toronto
