Instant Reaction: Blue Jays’ rally falls short in 5-4 loss to Tigers

Detroit scored the game-winning run in the top of the eighth, as Javier Baez hit his sixth home run of the season to make it a 5-3 game. In the bottom of the eighth, the Jays got it back to a one-run game thanks to Bo Bichette’s fourth home run of the season, but they were unable to score the game-tying run despite two runners on in the bottom of the ninth.

Takeaways…

Is it worrisome that the team leader on the Jays only has six home runs through 44 games? Sure. But Daulton Varsho has six home runs in 49 plate appearances, which is an insane rate. He won’t keep it up at this pace, but he looks like one of the best centre fielders in baseball so far this season.

Bo Bichette has already matched his home run total from last season, with his bottom of the eighth blast being his fourth of the season. Addison Barger just missed hitting his third home run of the season, settling for a double while batting 2-3 with a walk. Myles Straw, Bichette, and Michael Stefanic all had two-hit games.

Nathan Lukes was pulled from this game due to a migraine. They are the worst, and hopefully, it will pass quickly.

Bowden Francis had another tough start, giving up four earned runs in four and two-thirds innings pitched to bring his season ERA to 5.63. Mason Fluharty threw a scoreless inning and a third with a strikeout, with his ERA dropping to 1.96.

Brendon Little also pitched great, striking out two in an inning of work. Chad Green gave up the game-winning home run, moving his season ERA to 3.66. Yariel Rodriguez pitched the top of the ninth, allowing two base runners but getting out of it unscathed.

The Jays return to action on Saturday at 3:07 PM ET with an undetermined starter. It’s expected that either Eric Lauer or Jose Urena will start that game.