TORONTO – Jhonny Peralta and Gerald Laird each homered, Max Scherzer became a 10-game winner for the first time and the Detroit Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 Thursday.
Peralta hit a three-run drive and Laird added a two-run shot in Detroit's six-run fourth inning. It's the eighth time in eight road games that the Tigers have hit two or more home runs. They've hit 19 in that span.
Toronto's Jose Bautista hit his major league-leading 41st home run, a leadoff drive into the second deck in left in the seventh. It was the 100th homer of Bautista's career.
The Blue Jays lead the majors with 193 homers this season, including an ML-high 108 at home.
Bautista's homer was the only run allowed by Scherzer (10-9), who gave up six hits in eight innings, matching his career high. He walked one and struck out eight.
The right-hander is 9-5 with a 2.20 ERA in 17 starts since being recalled from Triple-A Toledo on May 30.
Tigers starting pitchers are 6-0 with an 1.09 ERA in the past seven games, striking out 43 while walking just seven. Detroit is 6-1 in that span.
Eddie Bonine worked the ninth for the Tigers.
Detroit did all its damage against Blue Jays left-hander Ricky Romero (10-8) in the fourth, sending nine men to the plate. Ramon Santiago led off with a single, Johnny Damon walked and Santiago went to third when Miguel Cabrera flied out to deep center. Ryan Raburn followed with a grounder to third, but Edwin Encarnacion's throw to second pulled Aaron Hill off the bag as Santiago scored and Damon advanced to third. Peralta followed with a homer to left, his 13th.
Brandon Inge grounded out and Casper Wells walked before Laird also went deep to left, his fourth.
Romero allowed six runs, three earned, and four hits in 5 2-3 innings. He walked five, matching a season high, and struck out four.
Detroit added one more in the seventh off reliever Casey Janssen when Peralta drew a bases-loaded walk.
Toronto had two hits and a stolen base off Scherzer in the third but failed to score. Encarnacion was thrown out at second by Raburn trying to stretch a single into a double, and Fred Lewis was thrown out at third after hitting a single to left and stealing second.
NOTES: Scherzer has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six straight starts. ... Tigers OF Brennan Boesch was held out of the starting lineup. ... Toronto 2B Hill batted eighth for the second straight game. ... Encarnacion's error was his team-leading 14th of the season.
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