Canha, Perez hit 2-run HRs, Flaherty gets 6th win in 7 starts to help Tigers beat Blue Jays, 5-4

TORONTO — Mark Canha and Wenceel Pérez hit two-run homers and Jack Flaherty struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings to win for the sixth time in seven starts. The Detroit Tigers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Friday night for their third straight victory.

All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and outfielder George Springer hit two-run homers for Toronto, as the Blue Jays lost for the third time in four games.

Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette left the field after six innings due to a right calf injury.

The two-time All-Star and two-time AL hits leader lined out to right field to end the sixth inning and was injured while running to first base, hopping down the sideline in pain. Leo Jimenez replaced Bichette at the top of the seventh.

Flaherty retired the first 13 batters he faced before Bichette singled in the fifth. Daulton Varsho followed with a bloop hit, but Flaherty struck out Alejandro Kirk and Ernie Clement.

Flaherty (7-5) allowed two runs and three hits. He is 6-1 since a home loss to Toronto on May 23.

Guerrero’s 445-foot drive off Flaherty in the sixth had an exit velocity of 117.5 mph. The home run was Guerrero’s 15th.

Tigers right-handed pitcher Will Vest struck out one in the sixth inning and Andrew Chafin was the linchpin in the seventh inning.

Springer made it 5-4 with a homerun by right-hander Beau Brieske in the eighth, his 11th. Jason Foley relieved Briekse and left the tying run on second base.

Left-hander Tyler Holton threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his third save in three chances.

Detroit’s Matt Vierling doubled to lead off the fourth inning and scored on Riley Greene’s single. Canha followed with a home run off right-hander and former Oakland teammate Chris Bassitt (8-8), his seventh.

Canha’s home run was his first since a win over Houston on May 11. He left Saturday’s win over the Dodgers with right wrist soreness and did not play in Sunday’s final game before the All-Star break.

Perez chased Bassitt with a two-out drive in the seventh. The home run was Perez’s sixth. Bassitt allowed five runs and seven hits.

ROSTER CHANGES

Blue Jays: Toronto activated RHP Yimi García (elbow) from the 15-day injured list and recalled RHP Erik Swanson from Triple-A Buffalo. RHP Zach Pop was sent to Triple-A.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: INF Javier Baez (lower back) is expected to return to the lineup Saturday, manager AJ Hinch said. Baez left last Saturday’s win over the Dodgers, his sixth game after spending a month on the injured list.

Blue Jays: Former NL MVP Joey Votto was scratched from a scheduled rehab game with Triple-A Buffalo after re-injuring his right ankle during pregame warmups. … Bichette returned from the injured list on June 24 after missing nine games with right calf soreness. He left a July 10 game at San Francisco with calf soreness and sat out the final four games before the All-Star break.

NEXT ONE

Blue Jays LHP Yusei Kikuchi (4-8, 4.42 ERA) was scheduled to start Saturday against Tigers RHP Reese Olson (4-8, 3.30).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb