Blue Jays back Berrios with early homers, rout Tigers

DETROIT (AP) — Lourdes Gurriel Jr., George Springer and Bo Bichette homered during a four-run second inning, Jose Berrios pitched eight strong innings and the Toronto Blue Jays routed the Detroit Tigers 10-1 on Friday night.

Springer reached base four times while scoring three runs and knocking in a pair. Gurriel and Bichette added run-scoring doubles and the Blue Jays had eight extra-base hits during the first six innings. Toronto has won 12 of its last 15 games, scoring six or more runs in 11 of those victories.

“The at-bats have been great,” Springer said. “Guys are starting to slow things down a little bit and starting to understand how they're being pitched. They're just developing a plan and staying with it.”

Berrios (5-2) allowed one run and five hits. He struck out five.

He held Minnesota to two runs and struck out 13 in seven innings in his previous start.

“I've been executing well,” he said. “Throwing quite a few sliders, quite a few sinkers. That's why I've been successful out there.”

Detroit starter Elvin Rodriguez (0-2) was pounded for eight runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. Pinch-hitter Willi Castro ended Berrios' shutout bid with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo was hopeful of getting a complete game out of Berrios before he ran into eighth-inning trouble.

“He was lights out the whole game,” Montoyo said. “He wasn't as sharp at the beginning (of the season) but we're 9-3 when he takes the mound. Now in his last two outings, he's been fun to watch. He gave us eight big innings, almost nine, today.”

The game was delayed 26 minutes during the third inning by rain.

Bichette and Alejandro Kirk had RBI doubles in the first. Toronto's home run outburst in the second