Blue Jays get home runs from Donaldson and Smoak, beat the Tigers

Blue Jays 7 Tigers 2

Now that was more like it. We actually scored some runs.

Josh Donaldson had a great day at the plate. He had a 3-run homer, and a triple and a single. 3 runs and 3 RBI.

And he made an amazing play on defense.

Justin Smoak had a 2-run home run, in the first inning to get us started on the right foot.

And Kevin Pillar had a 2-run triple in the 5th inning. He also, maybe more surprisingly, walked for the second game in a row.

In total, we had 9 hits. Donaldson's 3 and 2 each from Pillar, Smoak and Bautista.

R.A. Dickey didn't have his best game, but he only game up 2 runs, on a Nick Castellanos homer in the bottom of the first. He gave up 9 hits and 1 walk, but only the 2 runs. That's a pretty remarkable magic act.

Gibby surprised us by pulling R.A. with 1 out and 1 on in the 5th and less than 100 pitches. But, Jesse Chavez got 2 quick strikeouts to get out of the inning. He also pitched the 7th, allowing just a walk. He got 3 strikeouts in his 5 outs. We really need him to be good for the rest of the season.

Drew Storen had us a bit worried, allowing a walk and hitting a batter, but he managed to get out of it without a run scoring.

Aaron Loup started the 9th, got the first 2 outs and then Gibby pulled him, with a 5 run lead and no one on base. My guess is that Rogers wanted another commercial break. Gavin Floyd finished off the game with a strikeout of Ian Kinsler.

Jays of the Day: Josh (.208 WPA), Smoak (.162), Pillar (.115) and I'll give one to Bautista (.090).

Suckage: Ezequiel Carrera (-.103) for an 0 for 4 leaving 4 on base.

We also had 0 fors from Darwin Barney, Ryan Goins, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Thole (the latter two took a walk each).

Tomorrow we start a series at home, against the Orioles.

We had 829 comments in an weekday thread. Momus3 led us to victory. Great job.