Encarnacion hits 3-run HR, Blue Jays beat Tigers 6-0

Posted July 08, 2016 7:00 am

By IAN HARRISON

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher J.A. Happ throws against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday July 8, 2016. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) - J.A. Happ and two relievers combined on a seven-hit shutout, Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run home run and the Toronto Blue Jays extended their season-high winning streak to seven games with a 6-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.

In his final start before the All-Star break, Happ (12-3) matched his career-high in wins by giving up six hits, striking out nine and walking none in 5 2-3 innings. The left-hander, who went 12-4 for Philadelphia in 2009, has won six consecutive starts.

Jesse Chavez worked 1 1-3 innings and Bo Schultz finished as Toronto won for the seventh time in nine meetings with Detroit.

Tigers right-hander Mike Pelfrey (2-8) allowed one run and six hits in six innings. He has won just once in seven starts.

Toronto's only run against Pelfrey came in the fifth. Darwin Barney hit a leadoff double, advanced on Ezequiel Carrera's single and scored when Josh Donaldson grounded into a double play.

The Blue Jays added four more in the seventh against relievers Kyle Ryan and Bobby Parnell. Kevin Pillar hit an RBI double off Ryan, who left after walking Carrera. Parnell came on and got Donaldson to pop out before Encarnacion drilled his 23rd home run, a blast into the center field party deck.

Encarnacion leads the majors with 80 RBIs.

Detroit has lost four of five.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann, on the 15-day DL since July 4, has been diagnosed with a strained muscle in his neck and expects to resume throwing over the All-Star break.

Blue Jays: INF Ryan Goins, who went on the DL with a strained forearm after pitching an inning of relief in Toronto's 19-inning loss to Cleveland on July 1, is taking ground balls but has yet to resume throwing.

UP NEXT

Tigers: Detroit has not named a starter for Saturday but former Blue Jays farmhand Matt Boyd did not start make his scheduled start for Triple-A Toledo on Friday. The left-hander was acquired in the July, 2015, deal that sent David Price to Toronto. Boyd is 0-2 with a 6.44 ERA in six games, five starts, for the Tigers this season.

Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (9-1, 2.94) has allowed one run in eighth innings in each of his past two starts, posting victories over Colorado and Kansas City. Sanchez allowed two runs in eight innings in a 3-2 defeat at Detroit on June 7. He has not lost a decision since April 22 against Oakland.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday July 8, 2016. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Toronto Blue Jays' Michael Saunders celebrates after scoring on a two-run single by Troy Tulowitzki against the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 7, 2016, in Toronto. The Blue Jays won 5-4. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera walks back to the dugout after being stranded at third base in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Friday July 8, 2016. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

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