DETROIT 5 TORONTO 3
The Detroit Tigers did a lot of their best work simply by leaving their bats on their shoulders.
Detroit took advantage of Ricky Romero's wildness Tuesday night in a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Tigers scored their first two runs on bases-loaded walks, and although they never really broke the game open with a big hit, they did enough to keep pace in the AL Central race.
Detroit still trails the first-place Chicago White Sox by two games.
"This one's in the book, you turn the page," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "That's what we've got to do now - 40 of them left - got to just play it out and see what happens."
Max Scherzer struck out eight in seven impressive innings for Detroit.
Romero (8-11) lost his 10th straight decision, allowing five runs, seven hits and eight walks in 5 1 /3 innings. He didn't strike out a batter.
Austin Jackson had three hits. Scherzer (13-6) allowed five hits, including Edwin Encarnacion's solo homer. He walked two.
"I know that when I go out there, I know I can be really good," Scherzer said. "I know I can pitch consistently and I know I can get hitters out. I don't fear a single hitter in this whole league. When I bring my 'A' game and I bring my game, I can pitch well against any team - doesn't matter who it is."
Detroit needed three relievers to get through the eighth, when the Blue Jays scored two runs. Jose Valverde then pitched the ninth for his 24th save in 28 chances.
Valverde allowed two baserunners but eventually struck out Encarnacion to end it.
Romero walked six in the first two innings.
"I feel like I'm the one that lost the game," Romero said. "It's baffling. It's tough. I don't know how to put it. It's just been a frustrating year."
Romero is 0-10 with a 7.69 ERA in his last 11 starts. He was in trouble right away in the first inning on Tuesday, when Jackson reached on an infield single and went to second on third baseman Omar Vizquel's throwing error.
With two outs and a man on third, Romero walked Prince Fielder, Jhonny Peralta and Delmon Young to give Detroit the lead.
MARINERS 5, INDIANS 1
SEATTLE - Felix Hernandez wasn't perfect. He was still dominant.
Hernandez allowed one run in 7 2 /3 innings in the first start following his perfect game, Jesus Montero hit a three-run homer in Seattle's four-run seventh inning, and the Mariners won their seventh straight, beating the Cleveland Indians 5-1 on Tuesday night.
