Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays sprinted toward second base after hitting a double that brought teammate Nathan Lukes home during the fifth inning of Friday’s game against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit on July 25, 2025. (Photo: Ryan Sun, AP)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. gave Toronto fans more to cheer about Friday night as he cracked two doubles and crossed home plate twice, powering the Blue Jays to a 6-2 win over the struggling Detroit Tigers.
With this win, the Blue Jays—now leading the American League—continue their impressive post-All-Star break run, improving to 7 wins out of 8. Meanwhile, the Tigers are in a deep slump, now having lost five straight and 11 of their last 12 games.
Blue Jays Dominate Despite Early Detroit Lead
Detroit got on the board first in the second inning when Wenceel Pérez hit a single, stole second base, and scored thanks to a double by Dillon Dingler. That early spark, however, didn’t last long.
Toronto struck back in the fourth. Rookie Addison Barger knocked in an RBI double, tying the score. Moments later, a throwing error by Javier Báez allowed Barger to dash home, giving the Blue Jays a 2-1 edge.
Fifth Inning Fireworks Seal the Game
Toronto exploded in the fifth inning. Nathan Lukes and George Springer set the stage with back-to-back singles. Guerrero followed with a sharp RBI double, pushing the lead to 3-1. Bo Bichette didn’t wait around—he slammed a two-run double, and then Alejandro Kirk tacked on one more run with a single, making it 6-1.
Detroit’s only answer came in the sixth when Spencer Torkelson hammered his 23rd home run of the season, narrowing the score to 6-2. But that was as close as the Tigers would get.
Key Moment: Tigers Shut Down After Torkelson Homer
After Torkelson’s solo shot, the Tigers failed to get another runner on base for the rest of the night. Their bats fell silent, and their hopes faded quickly.
Pitching Performance: Berríos Shines
Toronto’s José Berríos (7-4) held steady on the mound, pitching six strong innings and allowing just two runs on five hits and a couple of walks. Detroit’s Keider Montero (4-3) struggled, surrendering six runs over four-plus innings, giving Toronto all the breathing room it needed.
Key Stat: Tigers’ Painful Numbers Continue
The Tigers have been outscored 83-32 over their last 12 games. That’s an average deficit of over 4 runs per game. Their once-impressive +112 run differential has nearly been halved in under two weeks—a dramatic collapse for a team that looked competitive earlier in the season.
What’s Next: Showdown on Saturday
The four-game series continues Saturday. Detroit will look to stop the bleeding with ace left-hander Tarik Skubal (10-3, 2.19 ERA) on the mound. Toronto counters with right-hander Kevin Gausman (7-7, 4.01 ERA), hoping to keep their hot streak alive.
