TORONTO – Jhonny Peralta hit two home runs, Doug Fister pitched eight innings and the Detroit Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep.
The Tigers had lost four of five and fallen out of the AL Central lead.
Peralta hit a three-run drive off Brett Cecil in the second and added a solo shot against Joel Carreno in the ninth. It was Peralta's first multihomer game of the season and seventh of his career.
Fister (5-7) won for the fourth time in five starts, allowing one run and seven hits, all singles. He struck out nine and matched his longest outing of the season.
Jose Valverde closed for his 20th save in 24 chances as Detroit avoided being swept in Toronto for the first time since Sept. 5-7, 2003.
Cecil (2-4) gave up three runs and four hits in a season-best 6 2-3 innings. The lefty walked a season-high four and struck out seven.
Cecil has given up no more than three runs in each of his past three starts, but has lost all of them. The Blue Jays have scored just two runs behind him in that span.
Toronto's only run came in the first when Rajai Davis singled, stole second and went to third on catcher Gerald Laird's throwing error, then scored on a groundout by Colby Rasmus.
Detroit answered with three in the second. Delmon Young walked, Ryan Raburn doubled and Peralta followed with his seventh homer.
The Blue Jays put runners at first and second with two outs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but failed to score each time. Brett Lawrie fouled out to end the third, Jeff Mathis grounded out to close the fourth and Edwin Encarnacion grounded out in the fifth.
NOTES: Toronto's Adam Lind (back) missed his third straight game. ... The Tigers improved to 14-4 on Sundays this season. ... Blue Jays OF Jose Bautista (left wrist) took swings for the second straight day.
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