By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com

Blue Jays 5, Tigers 4– Troy Tulowitzki hit a clutch two-run single in the eighth inning to pace the Toronto Blue Jays over the Tigers on Thursday night.

LSJ Logo incertThe Blue Jays jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a Michael Saunders single and a Russell Martin double.

Detroit tied the game 2-2 with solo homers by Justin Upton and Nick Castellanos in the second and fourth inning, respectively.

The Tigers took the lead later in the fourth on an RBI single by James McCann.

Detroit added an insurance run in the seventh inning to take a 4-2 advantage.Eye on the D

Tulowitzki closed out the scoring with a one-run single in the bottom of the seventh and a two-run hit in the eighth.

Upton led the Tigers in a losing effort with two hits and two runs while McCann and Jose Iglesias each chipped in with two hits apiece.

Detroit’s starting pitcher Justin Verlander took a no-decision, allowing two runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

The Tigers are now 45-41 on the season, good for second place in the American League Central Division behind the first-place Cleveland Indians.

Detroit is currently two-games behind the Boston Red Sox for the last wild card playoff spot.

The Tigers will look to even the series with a win against the Blue Jays on Friday night.

Record: 45-41

2nd Place in AL Central Division (6.5 games behind first-place Cleveland)

2 games behind Boston for last Wild Card spot

Magic # to clinch a playoff spot: 80

Magic # to clinch an AL Central Division title: 84

Next Game: 07/08/2016 @ Toronto Blue Jays 7:07 p.m. @ Rogers Centre

Hitting stats: Justin Upton 2B (18) HR (9) RBI (38), Nick Castellanos HR (17) RBI (51), James McCann 2B (3) RBI (22).

Pitching stats: Justin Wilson L (2-2) 1.1 IP 3 H 2 R 2 ER 1 BB 2 K, Justin Verlander 5.2 IP 6 H 2 R 2 ER 4 BB 5 K.