Tigers Blue Jays Baseball

Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera hits his 500th career home run in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday in Toronto. Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via the Associated Press

TORONTO — Miguel Cabrera’s 500th career homer was a big moment for everyone who had a hand in the slugger’s stellar career.

Even on the road, it was a big party.

Cabrera became the 28th major leaguer to hit 500 home runs, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 in 11 innings on Sunday.

Daz Cameron and Willi Castro each hit an RBI double in the 11th to help Detroit take two of three in the weekend series.

The 38-year-old Cabrera connected on a 1-1 pitch from left-hander Steven Matz in the sixth, sending the ball over the scoreboard in right-center field. Measured at 400 feet, the homer tied it at 1.

Cabrera is the first Venezuelan to hit 500 homers.

Advertisement

“It’s something special for my country, for my family, to be able to do this,” he said. “I’m really happy.”

Much of the crowd of 14,685 at Rogers Centre rose for a standing ovation as Cabrera rounded the bases. After celebrating with his teammates, he came out to accept a curtain call, taking off his helmet and bowing to the fans behind the first-base dugout.

“It came in a pivotal moment and it came in a team win,” Tigers Manager A.J. Hinch said. “You couldn’t have scripted it much better.”

Jeimer Candelario, who was on deck, was the first teammate to celebrate with Cabrera.

“When he hit that ball, I knew something special was about to happen and history was about to happen,” Candelario said. “For me, being a part of that is a blessing. It helped us to win a ballgame, too.”

Hinch asked Cabrera to address the Tigers after the game, and the slugger thanked his teammates for their support.

Advertisement

“So proud for him and his family, and a career accomplishment so rare you may never get to be a part of this again,” Hinch said. “We have no idea who the next person can be to pass this big number.”

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. broke the tie with a two-out single off Detroit’s Michael Fulmer in the eighth. It was Toronto’s first hit in 26 at-bats this series with a runner in scoring position, but the Blue Jays couldn’t hold on in the ninth.

After Willi Castro hit a two-out double off Adam Cimber, left-hander Tayler Saucedo came on to face pinch-hitter Harold Castro, who hit a routine grounder to second. Marcus Semien bounced his throw to first and the ball got away from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., allowing the tying run to score.

“He’s played a Gold Glove-caliber second base,” Blue Jays Manager Charlie Montoyo said of Semien. “He just made an error on that one.”

Detroit’s Jonathan Schoop hit a sacrifice fly off Brad Hand in the 10th but Alejandro Kirk replied with a sacrifice fly off Tigers lefty Gregory Soto in the bottom half. Toronto loaded the bases with two outs but Soto struck out rookie Kevin Smith.

Kirby Snead (0-1), Toronto’s seventh pitcher of the game, got two quick outs in the 11th before Cameron and Willi Castro hit back-to-back RBI doubles.

Advertisement

INDIANS 3, ANGELS 0: Cal Quantrill pitched two-hit ball over seven innings, Amed Rosario launched an early homer and Cleveland won the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

As the rain held off, youngsters in town for the Little League World Series were able to enjoy the festivities. Kids rushed to the stands for ice cream and sweets, popping inflatable thunder sticks in excitement for each big league at-bat.

Rosario belted a two-run homer off starter Jose Suarez (5-7) in the first inning.

Quantrill (4-2) struck out nine and walked two. Emmanuel Clase got three outs for his 18th save.

RAYS 9, WHITE SOX 0: Backup catcher Francisco Mejía had a three-run double, five Tampa Bay pitchers combined on a seven-hitter, and the Rays beat the Chicago in St. Petersburg, Florida in a matchup of AL division leaders.

Austin Meadows had three RBIs for Tampa Bay, which took the final two games of the series after the White Sox won the opener 7-5 in 11 innings. The Rays outscored Chicago 17-4 in the two wins.

Advertisement

The Rays loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth against Garrett Crochet. José Ruiz entered and gave up Mejía’s hit that made it 6-0.

Four Tampa Bay relievers followed Chris Archer, who departed with left hip tightness after allowing one hit over two innings. It was Archer’s first start since leaving a game April 10 against the New York Yankees with right forearm tightness.

MARINERS 6, ASTROS 3: Ty France tied the game with a solo home run in the ninth inning and put Seattle on top with an RBI single in the 11th before Kyle Seager belted a three-run homer in a win in Houston.

J.P. Crawford started the 11th on second base and moved to third on a wild pitch by Ryne Stanek (1-3) with no outs. Mitch Haniger walked before France singled on a grounder to right field to put Seattle up 3-2.

Seager then connected on his 29th home run this season to extend the lead to 6-2.

INTERLEAGUE

Advertisement

BRAVES 3, ORIOLES 1: Jorge Soler homered, Touki Toussaint pitched effectively into the sixth inning, and surging Atlanta won in Baltimore, extending the Orioles’ losing streak to 18 games.

Baltimore’s skid is the longest in the major leagues since Kansas City dropped 19 in a row in 2005. This was only the third time during this streak that the Orioles lost by two runs or fewer.

Adam Duvall added a two-run double for the Braves, who have won nine in a row and 16 of their last 18. Atlanta came into the day with a five-game lead over Philadelphia atop the NL East.

The Braves have also won a franchise-record 13 consecutive road games.

ROYALS 9, CUBS 1: Andrew Benintendi drove in three runs, and Kansas City beat the sliding Cubs in Chicago for a sweep of their weekend series.

It was Chicago’s franchise-record 13th consecutive loss at Wrigley Field.

Advertisement

Benintendi and Carlos Santana each had three hits in Kansas City’s sixth win in seven games. Hunter Dozier doubled and drove in two runs.

Royals right-hander Carlos Hernández (4-1) struck out a career-high eight in seven innings, also a career best. He allowed one run and four hits.

GIANTS 2, ATHLETICS 1: Pinch-hitter Donovan Solano delivered a go-ahead two-run homer on the first pitch he saw from A.J. Puk with two outs in the eighth inning, and San Francisco rallied to a win in Oakland, California.

Puk (0-1) couldn’t hold the lead after relieving Frankie Montas, who struck out nine over seven scoreless innings in a brilliant duel with Logan Webb. Solano connected moments after Austin Slater drew a pinch-hit walk.

Dominic Leone (3-2) struck out two in a perfect seventh. Starling Marte’s two-out double in the eighth against Tyler Rogers put the tying run on third but Matt Olson grounded out. Jake McGee pitched the ninth for his 28th save after allowing Josh Harrison’s one-out double.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Advertisement

REDS 3, MARLINS 1: Tyler Naquin hit two solo homers and Vladimir Gutierrez pitched seven effective innings, helping Cincinnati beat Miami for a sweep of their four-game series in Cincinnati.

Naquin’s leadoff shot extended his hitting streak to 12 games. He added his 18th homer in the eighth, making it 3-1 when he drove an 0-2 fastball from Anthony Bass into the seats in right-center.

Cincinnati won for the sixth time in eight games. It began the day in a tie with San Diego for the second NL wild card.

CARDINALS 3, PIRATES 0: Adam Wainwright allowed two hits in eight masterful innings and Paul Goldschmidt homered to lead St. Louis over visiting Pittsburgh.

The Cardinals snapped a two-game skid and kept the Pirates from earning their first series sweep of the season. They remain the only team in the majors without one.

Wainwright (12-7) threw 106 pitches and retired his final 11 hitters. He hasn’t permitted a run in his past 19 innings against the Pirates and has won his last seven decisions against them.

Advertisement

BREWERS 7, NATIONALS 3: Kolten Wong homered and drove in three runs, leading Milwaukee to a victory over Washington in Milwaukee.

Lorenzo Cain also connected as Milwaukee took the rubber game of the weekend series. The NL Central leaders have won 10 of 13 overall.

Hunter Strickland (2-1) got two outs for the win, and Josh Hader recorded the last out for his 26th save.

DIAMONDBACKS 8, ROCKIES 4: Daulton Varsho hit a three-run homer and finished a single short of hitting for the cycle to lead Arizona over Colorado for a rare win at Coors Field.

Taylor Widener (2-1) tossed five innings of one-hit ball to help Arizona end a seven-game losing streak in Denver. Widener allowed a run, walked five and struck out five to pick up his first win since April 4.

PHILLIES 7, PADRES 4: Rhys Hoskins homered twice in his return from the injured list and Kyle Gibson pitched eight fantastic innings as Philadelphia won in San Diego, knocking the skidding Padres out of playoff position.

Advertisement

Odubel Herrera went 4 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs to help the second-place Phillies remain five games behind Atlanta in the NL East.

San Diego has lost nine of 11 and dropped a game behind Cincinnati in the race for the second NL wild card. The Reds beat Miami 3-1 to complete a four-game sweep.

METS 7, DODGERS 2: Javier Báez had an RBI double in the first inning of his first game back from injury, J.D. Davis homered and drove in four runs, and New York snapped the Dodgers’ nine-game winning streak in Los Angeles.

Marcus Stroman (9-12) pitched six innings of four-hit ball for the Mets, who avoided a four-game series sweep and a seven-game season sweep at the Dodgers’ hands with just their second win in 10 games overall.

Báez made an immediate contribution in his return from an 11-game absence due to back spasms, driving in a run and scoring another during the Mets’ three-run first against David Price (4-2).

Comments are no longer available on this story