Another series, another series loss for the Toronto Blue Jays.

On Sunday, they played the rubber match against the Detroit Tigers, falling 3-2 to drop their season record to 22-24. The Jays have now lost seven of their last nine series. Let’s look at what happened in this one.
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For the sixth consecutive game, the opposing team took the lead first. In the top of the first, Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run double to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. The Jays fought back, tying the game in the bottom of the fourth, as Alejandro Kirk and Ernie Clement each hit RBI singles to tie it up at two each.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Last night&#39;s heroes getting it done this afternoon 👏 
Kirk 👉 Clement <a href="https://t.co/sZGtFjvVba">pic.twitter.com/sZGtFjvVba</a>
&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1924174388355645793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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In the top of the seventh, the Tigers scored the game-winning run. Torkelson drove in his third run of the game with an RBI single, with the Jays failing to score the game-tying run over their next three innings.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Tork comes through! <a href="https://t.co/WW1ctTMSXZ">pic.twitter.com/WW1ctTMSXZ</a>
&mdash; Detroit Tigers (@tigers) <a href="https://twitter.com/tigers/status/1924185693368017038?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Takeaways…</h2>
Toronto had its chances to score runs. Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr hit a single to start the bottom of the first. A run-saving catch by Akil Baddoo gave the Tigers their first out, followed by Alejandro Kirk hitting into a double play.
They had a chance to take a lead in the bottom of the fifth, as the first two runners reached base. Guerrero Jr. grounded out, Daulton Varsho smoked a liner to Gleyber Torres, and Kirk hit a groundout. With two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh, Varsho struck out to end the threat. Overall, the Jays were 2-12 with runners in scoring position while leaving nine runners on.
Although Kirk was responsible for the final out of the inning twice, he had a solid game at the plate as he was 2-4 with an RBI. Ernie Clement drove in the other run, while Bichette, Guerrero Jr., and Jonatan Clase all hit singles. Daulton Varho’s third double of the season was the only extra-base hit of the game for the Jays.
Anthony Santander had a rough game, striking out three times in four plate appearances. The 30-year-old switch-hitter was moved to the fifth spot in the lineup and is now batting .182/.264/.308 with five homers in 178 plate appearances. There are slow starts, but he’s struggling mightily.
Jose Berrios pitched a quality start, going six innings with two earned runs, four strikeouts, a walk, and eight hits to bring his season ERA to 4.19. Mason Fluharty was tagged with his first career big league loss, giving up an earned run in two-thirds of an inning pitched.
Braydon Fisher gave up the hit that allowed the game-winning run to score. He pitched an inning and a third with a strikeout. Yimi Garcia pitched an inning with a walk. The pitchers did well enough to win, but the bats were cold.
Monday is an off-day for the Jays, but they return to action on Tuesday against the San Diego Padres at 7:07 PM ET. Chris Bassitt is expected to start for the Jays.
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Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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Another series, another series loss for the Toronto Blue Jays.



On Sunday, they played the rubber match against the Detroit Tigers, falling 3-2 to drop their season record to 22-24. The Jays have now lost seven of their last nine series. Let’s look at what happened in this one.
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For the sixth consecutive game, the opposing team took the lead first. In the top of the first, Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run double to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. The Jays fought back, tying the game in the bottom of the fourth, as Alejandro Kirk and Ernie Clement each hit RBI singles to tie it up at two each.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1924174388355645793

In the top of the seventh, the Tigers scored the game-winning run. Torkelson drove in his third run of the game with an RBI single, with the Jays failing to score the game-tying run over their next three innings.

https://twitter.com/tigers/status/1924185693368017038
<h2>Takeaways…</h2>
Toronto had its chances to score runs. Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr hit a single to start the bottom of the first. A run-saving catch by Akil Baddoo gave the Tigers their first out, followed by Alejandro Kirk hitting into a double play.

They had a chance to take a lead in the bottom of the fifth, as the first two runners reached base. Guerrero Jr. grounded out, Daulton Varsho smoked a liner to Gleyber Torres, and Kirk hit a groundout. With two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh, Varsho struck out to end the threat. Overall, the Jays were 2-12 with runners in scoring position while leaving nine runners on.

Although Kirk was responsible for the final out of the inning twice, he had a solid game at the plate as he was 2-4 with an RBI. Ernie Clement drove in the other run, while Bichette, Guerrero Jr., and Jonatan Clase all hit singles. Daulton Varho’s third double of the season was the only extra-base hit of the game for the Jays.

Anthony Santander had a rough game, striking out three times in four plate appearances. The 30-year-old switch-hitter was moved to the fifth spot in the lineup and is now batting .182/.264/.308 with five homers in 178 plate appearances. There are slow starts, but he’s struggling mightily.

Jose Berrios pitched a quality start, going six innings with two earned runs, four strikeouts, a walk, and eight hits to bring his season ERA to 4.19. Mason Fluharty was tagged with his first career big league loss, giving up an earned run in two-thirds of an inning pitched.

Braydon Fisher gave up the hit that allowed the game-winning run to score. He pitched an inning and a third with a strikeout. Yimi Garcia pitched an inning with a walk. The pitchers did well enough to win, but the bats were cold.

Monday is an off-day for the Jays, but they return to action on Tuesday against the San Diego Padres at 7:07 PM ET. Chris Bassitt is expected to start for the Jays.

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Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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