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At Comerica Park
WHAT HAPPENED: Victor Martinez started the scoring with an RBI double to left-center that reached the wall and scored a huffing and puffing Miguel Cabrera in the second. Martinez added another RBI single in the third to give starter Max Scherzer a 2-0 lead. The Blue Jays got a run back on a double by Eric Thames, a wild pitch by Scherzer and a bounce out by Jose Bautista, then tied it up on a homer by Adam Lind, all in the fourth inning.
Jhonny Peralta’s triple in the bottom of the eighth scored pinch-runner Austin Jackson and proved to be the winning run.
Magglio Ordoñez, who had two hits, had singled with one out in the eighth and Jackson, pinch-running for the rightfielder, stole second and scored on Peralta’s hit, which skipped under the mitt of Jose Bautista and went to the right-centerfield wall.
.300: Brennan Boesch hit a dribbler down the third-base line in the third inning that stayed fair for a single, lifting his average to .300. Boesch got another hit later and finished the game at .301.
DAY OFF: After striking out four times Sunday against Arizona, lead-off man and centerfielder Austin Jackson was given the day off with Andy Dirks taking his place at both positions. Don Kelly started in place of Brandon Inge at third base to keep his bat sharp.
WHAT A RELIEF: Scherzer had a good game, giving up two runs over seven innings, but the bullpen won it. Joaquin Benoit (2-3) pitched a scoreless eighth and picked up the victory, and Jose Valverde came on in the ninth and got his 18th save. Valverde allowed runners to get to the corners with one out, but induced a double-play ball from Juan Rivera to end it.
FURBUSH A STARTER? One day Charlie Furbursh could be in the Tigers rotation.
“I thought there was a strong possibility from what I saw and what I’ve seen in Furbush -- I thought he was a reliever, but I think he’s a starter,” manager Jim Leyland said. “To get him some innings like I have to this point, two or three at a time sometimes, I think it’ll be beneficial to him instead of making him a lefty specialist. I should have two of the three lefties available everyday. I would not put Furbush in relief situations only in the future. I think he’s a potential starter.”
GET THAT OUT OF YOUR MIND: Leyland reiterated that Justin Verlander wouldn’t start or be pitching in the All-Star game because his last start is Sunday, two days before the event in Arizona. He can dress and take part in all the festivities, but he won’t be on the mound.
ONE MAN’S OPINION: Leyland said he wasn’t trying to offend anyone or start a controversy, but when asked about how the All-Star game participants should be selected, he said: “The managers and coaches around the league should do it.
“I’m sure a lot of people will take offense to that, and I’m not looking to open up a can of worms, but I’m just saying I have my reasons for saying that. Sometimes with the fans it becomes a popularity contest, and if you have the players vote, certain players might not like certain players and they might not vote for them. The fans vote and I’m fine with that. I like the fact that all 25 uniforms are represented.”
EARLY SHOWER:Leyland was ejected in the seventh after a long argument that included a mocking impersonation of first base umpire Ed Rapuano changing his call on a close play.
THREE STARS: 1. Peralta; 2. Scherzer; 3. Ordoñez.
Detroit Free Press news services contributed to this report.
Join Free Press special writer Anthony Fenech for a live blog of the Tigers-Mets game Thursday afternoon at freep.com/sports.
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