Tigers 3, Blue Jays 2 (11): Alex Avila singled home the winning run with two outs in the 11th as host Detroit finished off a three-game sweep of Toronto.

Avila lined a single off Chad Jenkins (0-1) that landed just in front of right fielder Anthony Gose, whose throw home was too late to catch a sliding Quintin Berry to end the marathon game and send the Blue Jays to their fifth straight defeat.

Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson kept the game tied with a spectacular diving catch on a gapper by Gose with a runner at second in the top of the 10th.

Joaquin Benoit (3-3), Detroit's fourth pitcher of the day, pitched two-thirds of an inning for the win in a game that featured a classic pitchers' duel.

Tigers ace Justin Verlander struck out 12 in nine innings but appeared headed for the loss until Detroit rallied for two runs in the eighth. He gave up two runs on four hits and reclaimed the major league lead with 192 strikeouts.

Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ was equally superb, carrying a shutout into the eighth inning only to see the bullpen blow the lead. He allowed one run on four hits while striking out seven and walking three in 7 1/3 innings.

Edwin Encarnacion belted a two-run homer, his 33rd, in the fourth inning and Happ made it stand up until leaving after giving up a one-out walk to Avila in the eighth.

After Austin Jackson singled off reliever Brandon Lyon, pinch hitter Brennan Boesch bounced an RBI single up the middle off Darren Oliver before the veteran lefty uncorked a wild pitch, plating Jackson with the tying run.

NOTEBOOK: Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera, who leads the majors in RBIs with 105, left the game in the second inning due to right ankle soreness and is listed as day-to-day. He was replaced by Ramon Santiago. ... Encarncion's homer was the 150th of his career. His previous season high was 26 in 2008 with Cincinnati. Encarnacion is 2-for-16 against Verlander, with both hits leaving the park. ... Verlander has 1,407 career strikeouts to move past Jim Bunning for fifth place on the franchise career list. Verlander and Max Scherzer are the first Detroit pitchers with at least 185 strikeouts in a season since 1973. ... Toronto CF Rasmus snapped an 0-for-26 skid with his fourth-inning single. It also halted Verlander's 13-inning hitless streak against the Jays. ... Tigers RHP Doug Fister (groin) will miss Saturday's scheduled start in the second of a three -game set against the Los Angeles Angels. LHP Drew Smyly take his place. ... 1B David Cooper (neck) sat out the game for the Blue Jays, who will continue their nine-game road trip at Baltimore on Friday night.