Christin Stewart hit a two-run homer in the top of the 10th inning, Jordan Zimmermann allowed only a single in seven superb innings and the visiting Detroit Tigers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Thursday.
Niko Goodrum led off the 10th with a double against Toronto reliever Daniel Hudson (0-1), the first extra-base hit of the game.
Stewart followed with a home run on an 0-2 pitch, the fourth hit by the Tigers and only the sixth hit combined by both teams.
Victor Alcantara (1-0) allowed only a one-out single to Brandon Drury in the bottom of the ninth, his only inning.
Shane Greene pitched a perfect bottom of the 10th to earn the save.
Zimmermann, Detroit's starter, allowed an infield single in the seventh while striking out four over seven innings.
Toronto starter Marcus Stroman allowed two hits, four walks and struck out seven in seven innings.
The Tigers' Nicholas Castellanos delivered the first hit of the game with two out in the sixth. It advanced Jordy Mercer, who led off with a walk, to second, but Miguel Cabrera grounded out to third to end the inning.
After Zimmermann set the Blue Jays down in order in the bottom of the sixth, Jeimer Candelario led off the Tigers seventh with a single. But Stroman closed out the inning on two flyouts and a strikeout.
Drury fouled out to first to open the bottom of the seventh and Randal Grichuk made the second out on a line drive to right field. Teoscar Hernandez ended Zimmermann's bid for a perfect game on an infield single. Zimmermann ended the inning by retiring Justin Smoak with his fourth strikeout of the game.
Joe Biagini replaced Stroman and struck out the side in the top of the eighth.
Joe Jimenez replaced Zimmermann and allowed only a walk to Rowdy Tellez while striking out one in the bottom of the eighth.
Ken Giles took over for Biagini and struck out the side in the top of the ninth.
--Field Level Media
Detroit | Toronto | |
Jordan Zimmermann | Player | Marcus Stroman |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
7.0 | IP | 7.0 |
4 | Strikeouts | 7 |
1 | Hits | 2 |
0.00 | ERA | 0.00 |
Detroit | Toronto | |
Nicholas Castellanos | Player | Brandon Drury |
1 | Hits | 1 |
0 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
1 | TB | 1 |
.333 | Avg | .250 |