The Cleveland Guardians lost on Monday night, but it didn't matter because the Blue Jays couldn't take advantage.
The Toronto Blue Jays missed a golden opportunity to gain ground in the American League playoff race on Monday night, losing to the Detroit Tigers 6-5 at Rogers Centre in the opening of a three-game series.
The loss was made more painful by the fact that the Cleveland Guardians also lost to the Chicago White Sox. So while the Blue Jays didn't lose any ground and remain one game back in the wild card race, they also could have moved into a tie for the No. 3 spot - and they have the tiebreaker over Cleveland.
Instead, with 11 games to go, they remain on the outside looking in.
This loss was particularly painful, but here's what you need to know.
How it happened
--The Blue Jays actually took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a single by Alejandro Kirk and a wild pitch. That was impressive against rookie starter Troy Melton, who entered the game with an ERA of well under three.
--Jose Soriano actually had a no-hitter going through six innings, but the wheels came off in the seventh, as he gave up four runs to put the Jays down 4-2. Dillon Dingler singled in a run, Max Clark doubled home two more and Spencer Torkelson doubled in another.
--The Blue Jays came back to a 5-4 lead on an electric three-run homer by Kazuma Okamoto in the bottom of the seventh. It was his 33rd homer of the year.
--In the top of the eighth inning, All-Star closer Louis Varland surrendered a run on a single by Brett Callahan, and the Tigers took the lead off Varland in the ninth on a ball that Varland dropped trying to cover first base.
It was just the second blown save of the year for Varland, who has been excellent, but he fell to 5-6 with a 1.32 ERA.
Up next
The Blue Jays and Tigers will play again on Tuesday at 7:07 p.m. ET and Drew Anderson will start for Detroit. As of this posting, no starter has been named for the Jays.
Scoreboard watching
The White Sox will visit the Guardians again on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. ET. Davis Martin will pitch for Chicago while left-hander Foster Griffin takes the ball for Cleveland.
The Texas Rangers, who trail the Blue Jays by just 0.5 games in the wild card race (and 1.5 behind Cleveland) will start a series with the Boston Red Sox.
