Springer hits 2 HRs and Clement scores game-tying hit as Blue Jays beat Tigers 5-4 to avoid sweep

TORONTO — George Springer hit two home runs, including the 58th leadoff hit of his career, and the Toronto Blue Jays avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Detroit Tigers 5-4 on Sunday.

Ernie Clement hit a tiebreaking single in the sixth inning and Toronto outfielder Daulton Varsho made a sensational catch near the wall with two runners on base to preserve the one-run lead into the eighth inning.

Springer went 3-for-4 with three RBI and Clement reached base three times, giving the Blue Jays their second win in seven meetings with Detroit this season.

Justyn-Henry Malloy hit his first career grand slam off Blue Jays right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman, a two-out drive in the fifth inning, but the Tigers could not extend their four-game winning streak.

Springer hit Keider Montero (1-3) in the first inning and drove in Clement with a one-out shot in the third. The home runs were his 12th and 13th of the year.

It was Springer’s second multi-homerun game of the season and the 23rd of his career.

Springer is second only to Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson (81) on baseball’s all-time list for leadoff home runs. Springer has hit 19 since joining the Blue Jays for the 2021 season.

Malloy’s slam, his sixth home run of the season, put Detroit ahead 4-3, but Spencer Horwitz tied it with an RBI single from Montero in the bottom half of the season.

Clement restored Toronto’s lead with a single by right-handed pitcher Will Vest in the sixth inning, with two outs.

Gausman (8-8) allowed four runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings to win back-to-back starts for the first time since beating Detroit on May 23 and the White Sox on May 28.

Génesis Cabrera got two outs, but was retired after putting runners on first and second in the eighth inning. Chad Green came on to face Carson Kelly, who hit a drive to far left. Varsho jumped over the scoreboard to make the catch.

Green got five outs for his seventh save in seven chances.

Montero allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Detroit placed RHP Reese Olson on the 15-day injured list with a shoulder strain. Olson left Saturday’s start after two innings.

ROSTER CHANGES

The Tigers selected utilityman Bligh Madris from Triple-A Toledo and recalled LHP Easton Lucas from Triple-A. To make room for Madris on the 40-man roster, OF Kerry Carpenter (back) was reassigned to the 60-day IL.

NEXT ONE

Tigers: LHP Tarik Skubal (10-3, 2.41 ERA) will start against RHP Carlos Carrasco (3-7, 5.02) on Monday in Cleveland.

Blue Jays: RHP José Berríos (8-7, 4.01 ERA) will start Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series against Tampa Bay. The Rays have not yet announced a scheduled starter.