News
Jays unable to hold late lead in Detroit
Frasor's blown save, Scutaro's error in 10th sink Toronto
By Mike Scott / Special to MLB.com
09/14/09 11:12 PM ET
DETROIT -- Once the rain came Monday night, a seemingly certain Toronto victory was washed away like the Detroit River as the Tigers came from three runs down in the ninth inning before beating the Blue Jays, 6-5, in the 10th.Jason Frasor had been lights-out this season, and he had been scored upon just once in his past 21 outings. His ERA was 2.13 and he had converted nine consecutive save opportunities since being designated as the full-time closer.
But noted Toronto nemesis Aubrey Huff made sure Frasor's save streak would remain in single digits. Huff drilled his 15th home run of the season, and 23rd of his career against the Blue Jays, nearly 400 feet with two on in the ninth to tie the score at 5. The inning started when Curtis Granderson reached base on a Marco Scutaro error just as the rain began to intensify.
The Tigers then scored an unearned run to win it one inning later, when Lyle Overbay fielded a ground ball and threw a ball that eluded Blue Jays shortstop Scutaro at second base. Brandon Inge scampered home for the winning run.
The loss wasted a strong effort from Toronto starter David Purcey, who went 5 2/3 innings while allowing two runs on five hits. He was in line for the win until the Detroit rally, surviving a 31-pitch first inning that included a Ryan Raburn leadoff home run and two walks.
From there, Purcey got into a groove. He set down seven batters in a row in the second, third and fourth innings. With two outs in the fourth, Travis Snider appeared to misplay an Inge drive into a double, but Purcey retired Curtis Granderson on a 400-foot fly ball to center to end the inning. Purcey did give up an RBI single to Raburn in the fifth, but he left the game leading, 5-2. Most of all, he felt good about his first start with the Jays since April.
"I felt more comfortable on the mound than I had [in Toronto] earlier this season," Purcey said. "I ended up making some good pitches. I pitched against [Detroit starter Justin] Verlander in high [Class A] ball, and he's just continued to move up the ladder. It was exciting to face him again."
Purcey was coming off two successful appearances in Triple-A Las Vegas earlier this month. In those two games, both wins and one a complete-game shutout, the Toronto lefty went 14 1/3 innings while allowing two earned runs and just three walks. On Monday, Purcey walked four, but held Detroit to two runs on five hits. Toronto manager Cito Gaston replaced his starter after Purcey threw 96 pitches.
Purcey admitted those two games with Las Vegas gave him some confidence heading into Monday's game.
"I think it helped, especially because I've been working with the coaches [at Triple-A] and working on my tempo," he said. "Game speed is different than in the bullpen or in the Minors."
Bobby Seay (6-3) picked up the win in relief for the Tigers. Brian Wolfe (1-2) allowed two walks and the unearned run in the 10th for the loss for the Jays.
Gaston was also pleased with how Purcey rebounded early, but felt bad for Scutaro, who made two errors in the final two innings.
"Marco has played really steady all year at shortstop," Gaston said. "I'm sure he feels worse than anyone on the ballclub right now."
"What can I say? I missed the ball," Scutaro said.
Verlander appeared to be in control through five innings, especially once he escaped a two-on, no-out jam thanks to some fastballs that reached 100 mph.
But the Blue Jays hitters finally solved the Tigers All-Star in the sixth. Snider led off with a double, Scutaro singled and Aaron Hill drove in the first run on a single for his 98th RBI. Then, his teammate and fellow RBI masher, Adam Lind, one-upped Hill by burying a Verlander fastball into the left-field seats, giving Lind 100 RBIs, and Toronto a 4-2 lead.
Vernon Wells then followed with his second single of the game, and the 11th time he's been on base in the series. But Wells was picked off by Verlander and was thrown out by first-base umpire Mark Wegner for arguing the call. Two pitches later, Edwin Encarnacion slammed a breaking ball 405 feet for a 5-2 lead. And suddenly Purcey was in line for the win with some runs to spare.
"He got some balls up tonight in some spots where you don't want them," Gaston said of Verlander. "When you give up home runs, that's usually what happens. "But he was still throwing 99 [mph] up there. He still had good stuff."
Lind is the first Blue Jays hitter to have 100 RBIs since 2006, when both Wells and Troy Glaus eclipsed that mark. Lind is also the first left-handed Toronto hitter with 100 RBIs since Carlos Delgado had 145 in 2003.
"It's good to see [Lind] get his 100th," Gaston said. "And [Hill] is close, too. Both kids have been great all year."
Toronto rookie catcher Kyle Phillips started and recorded his first big league hit with a single in the seventh off Verlander. Phillips had caught Purcey at Las Vegas several times this year, and both players were familiar with each other, which seemed to help Purcey escape more first-inning damage.
"It was an unbelievable experience and is what everyone dreams about when they're growing up," Phillips said. "There's no better feeling than running to first place with your first Major League hit after a couple of organizations thought you weren't good enough to play up here. The first pitch that [Verlander] threw me, it seemed like was 120 mph.
"No matter who I would have caught, I'm sure it would have been a rhythm thing. It helped out that I was familiar with Purcey, but I have caught a lot of guys that are up here. Now it's about getting some more innings under my belt at this level behind the plate."
Gaston credited Phillips defensively, and the skipper plans to use his third catcher at times during the remainder of the season.
"I felt good for him because he got a hit and called a good game," Gaston said. "I'm really glad we called him back up."
Mike Scott is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
