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  Friday, May 26 7:05pm ET
Seven-run eighth lifts Jays
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

DETROIT (AP) -- Darrin Fletcher hit his third grand slam of the season to power the Toronto Blue Jays to an 8-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.

Fletcher's slam, the sixth of his career, keyed a seven-run eighth as the Blue Jays broke open a pitchers duel between starters Frank Castillo and Dave Mlicki.

Juan Gonzalez hit a solo homer, his ninth, giving Detroit a 2-1 lead in the seventh.

Mlicki, who allowed two runs and eight hits, was relieved by Doug Brocail (1-3) after Raul Mondesi's double leading off the Toronto eighth.

Carlos Delgado greeted Brocail with an RBI single to tie it 2-2. A walk to Brad Fullmer and Tony Batista's single loaded the bases with no outs. Fletcher stroked a 1-2 pitch into the right-field seats for his ninth homer of the season and a 6-2 lead.

Brandon Villafuerte relieved Brocail, who gave up five runs on three hits and one walk without retiring any of the five batters he faced.

Alex Gonzalez, who had singled, scored on a wild pitch by Villafuerte for the seventh run of the inning.

Castillo had allowed only five hits and had easily retired the first two batters in the seventh when Gonzalez stroked a line drive over the left-field wall.

Castillo became angry at plate umpire Larry Young after going 3-0 to the next batter, Bobby Higginson. After he walked Higginson on four pitches, Castillo was relieved by John Frascatore (1-1) and scattered paper cups as he walked through the Toronto dugout.

Castillo, who allowed six hits and four walks, was facing the Tigers for the first time. Castillo pitched for Detroit in 1998.

Frascatore pitched 2 1/3 innings for the win.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead on consecutive doubles by Gonzalez and Higginson in the second. Higginson got the RBI on a soft flare down the left-field line that was fair by no more than an inch.

Delgado, who singled, scored on Batista's sacrifice fly to tie it 1-1 in the fourth. A walk to Jose Cruz later in the inning loaded the bases with two outs, but Mlicki got Alex Gonzalez on a fly to center.

Detroit loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but Castillo struck out Luis Polonia and Shane Halter to nip the threat.

The Tigers had runners at first and third with two outs in the fifth, but Castillo got Luis Polonia on a soft fly to left.

Game notes
Toronto's Shannon Stewart extended his hitting streak to 10 games. ... Gregg Jefferies, who drew a leadoff walk, was doubled up easily in the Detroit fifth when he ran to second on a routine flyball to right by Juan Gonzalez. ... CF Juan Encarnacion, sidelined with a sore rib cage, will begin serving his three-day suspension Saturday for his part in Detroit's brawl in Chicago.

 


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Toronto Clubhouse

Detroit Clubhouse


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