Right-hander Louis Varland is a key reason the Toronto Blue Jays are still in the postseason race. The flame-throwing closer sports a 1.32 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP, 93 strikeouts and 33 saves over 75 innings this season.
Unfortunately for Varland and Toronto, the righty made a crucial error in the ninth inning on Monday night, allowing the Detroit Tigers to score en route to a 6-5 victory over the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays are still one game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final American League Wild Card spot.
With a runner on second base and one out in the ninth inning, Tigers second baseman Hao-Yu Lee hit a ground ball that required Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to lunge to his right. Guerrero threw the ball to Varland, who simply missed the catch while running over to cover first base.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider commented on Varland’s misplay following the game.
Toronto Blue Jays’ John Schneider Makes Louis Varland Statement After Loss to Tigers
MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson wrote on X:
John Schneider said there were “a couple of balls that we didn’t really handle great”
On the play between Vladdy and Varland, which scored the run:
“That play, a first-baseman to pitcher, is always tough. I thought Vlad made a good throw. We just didn’t execute it.”
On the play between Vladdy and Varland, which scored the run:
“That play, a first-baseman to pitcher, is always tough. I thought Vlad made a good throw. We just didn’t execute it.” #BlueJays
Toronto Blue Jays Lose 6-5 to Detroit Tigers
Blue Jays right-hander Jose Soriano carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning. He allowed four runs in the seventh before being removed.
The Blue Jays took a 2-0 lead in the first inning after catcher Alejandro Kirk hit an RBI single and George Springer scored on a wild pitch from Tigers right-hander Troy Melton.
The Tigers took the lead in the seventh inning. Dillon Dingler hit an RBI single, Max Clark hit a two-run double and Spencer Torkelson hit an RBI double, respectively, giving Detroit a 4-2 lead.
Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto quickly answered with a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving Toronto a 5-4 lead.
The Tigers tied the game in the eighth inning on an RBI single from left fielder Brett Callahan. The Tigers scored the deciding run in the ninth inning on Varland’s error.
Game 2 of the series between the Blue Jays and Tigers is scheduled to begin at 7:07 p.m. EDT on Tuesday.
The series will wrap up on Wednesday afternoon.
Toronto Blue Jays Manager Makes Honest Louis Varland Statement After Loss to Tigers