TORONTO (AP) -Pinch-hitter Marcus Thames hit a go-ahead, two-run double off B.J. Ryan in the ninth inning to help the Detroit Tigers rally for a 10-7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.
Toronto led 7-6 when Ryan issued consecutive walks to Gary Sheffield, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen with one out in the ninth. Thames, hitting for Sean Casey, then dropped a broken-bat double into left field to give the Tigers the lead.
Craig Monroe drove in a run with a fielder’s choice and Thames scored on Royce Clayton’s fielding error as Detroit chased Ryan (0-2), who blew his second save in five chances.
Todd Jones closed it out for his sixth save in as many opportunities.
Vernon Wells hit a three-run drive, Alex Rios had a two-run shot and Lyle Overbay a solo homer for the Blue Jays, who blew leads of 4-0, 6-4 and 7-6.
Inge hit a two-run homer for the Tigers, who avoided their first losing streak of the season. Wilfredo Ledezma (2-0) pitched one inning to get the win.
Indians 4, White Sox 0
CLEVELAND (AP) – Paul Byrd pitched six sharp innings in his first official start of the season for the Indians.
Byrd (1-0) had come within one strike of an abbreviated no-hitter on April 6. That was Cleveland’s scheduled home opener – which was snowed out with two outs in the top of the fifth inning and the Indians leading the Seattle Mariners 4-0.
Ironically, Byrd’s first pitch against the White Sox was a called strike – exactly what he needed eight days earlier to make it an official game in a swirling snow at Jacobs Field.
Ryan Garko and Josh Barfield connected for their first homers in the second inning off Chicago rookie John Danks (0-2) to put Cleveland ahead 2-0.
Byrd allowed five hits, struck out five and walked two.
Joe Borowski retired Darin Erstad on a foul popup with runners on second and third in the ninth for his fourth save in four chances.
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