Blue Jays denied a Motown sweep when red-hot bats suddenly go cold
One has to go back to June 13 to find a time when the Blue Jays were shutout, an 8-0 setback in Philadelphia against a very good Phillies team loaded with quality starters.
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Technically, the Jays did score in Sunday's in loss, but it was checkered, to say the least, because it came off a recently DFA'd pitcher in a ninth inning featuring a bad call by the home plate ump that led to a walk, the first of three, followed by defensive indifference.
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Either way, the Jays weren't good, save for their starter and cleanup hitter, and should have been held scoreless until a series of unusual circumstances helped the visitors in the ninth.
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At no time in franchise history have the Jays earned a four-game sweep in Motown, an elusive feat that would continue following their 10-4 loss.
In the opening three games of the series, the Jays outscored the Tigers 23-7.
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The only player from the bottom of the order to record a hit was Tyler Heineman, who will be expected to fill the void behind the plate in the absence of Alejandro Kirk.
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Four-run innings have been the norm of late with the Blue Jays, who were on the receiving end when Detroit plated seven in the eighth, a truly ugly frame when the MLB-leading team unraveled.
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The following are three takeaways on an afternoon the Jays would lose a game for only the second time since the all-star break, but they would take the season series from the Tigers.
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1. Mad Max in the Motor City
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On his 41st birthday, veteran Max Scherzer started against a team he spent five years from 2010 through 2014, which included a World Series appearance in 2012.
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He's been built up after injuring his thumb in Scherzer's debut with the Blue Jays.
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Sunday's outing was Scherzer's seventh start of the season.
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In the first inning, he struck out two by resorting to his fastball.
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During the Jays' stay at Comerica Park, the team has received solid starting pitching, beginning with Eric Lauer, who was at his absolute best in Thursday's series opener.
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