TORONTO (AP) — Myles Straw had two hits and an RBI, Max Scherzer allowed one run in five innings for his second win in four starts and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tigers 5-1 on Wednesday afternoon, ending Detroit’s winning streak at six.
The Blue Jays are 45-15 when they score five or more runs.
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Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) catches a pop fly from Detroit Tigers' Dillon Dingler (13) during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Keider Montero (54) makes a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Myles Straw (3) is caught stealing at Detroit Tigers shortstop John Peck (18) applied the tag during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela (59) tries to tag out Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith (33) as he scores a run during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Brett Bateman had two hits and scored a run as Toronto avoided a three-game sweep and ensured it would not lose ground in the AL wild-card race. The Blue Jays (76-77) are 1 1/2 games behind the White Sox for the final postseason spot.
Chicago dropped into the wild-card position after losing 6-3 at Cleveland as the Guardians replaced the White Sox atop the AL Central.
Scherzer (3-8) allowed three hits, walked three and struck out three.
Blue Jays closer Louis Varland came on with runners at first and second in the ninth and wrapped it up for his 34th save in 36 chances.
Detroit’s Riley Greene hit an RBI single in the first inning but the Blue Jays answered with two in the fourth, chasing Tigers starter Keider Montero. Ernie Clement hit a sacrifice fly and Straw added an RBI single.
Montero (9-9) allowed two runs and six hits in four innings.
George Springer singled home a run in the fifth, and the Blue Jays took advantage of errors on three consecutive plays to score two more in the sixth.
Tigers: LHP Framber Valdez (10-10, 4.01 ERA) is scheduled to start at Chicago on Thursday against White Sox RHP Erick Fedde (8-9, 3.97).
Blue Jays: RHP Dylan Cease (11-5, 2.38) is expected to start at Texas on Friday. The Rangers had not named a starter.
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Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) catches a pop fly from Detroit Tigers' Dillon Dingler (13) during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Keider Montero (54) makes a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Myles Straw (3) is caught stealing at Detroit Tigers shortstop John Peck (18) applied the tag during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela (59) tries to tag out Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith (33) as he scores a run during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
MADRID (AP) — Raphinha scored a hat trick as Barcelona earned yet another big win on Wednesday, routing Racing Santander 7-2 for its sixth victory in six Spanish League matches.
Gabriel Jesus and Lamine Yamal also found the net for Barcelona, which has scored at least five goals in five of its seven matches across all competitions this season.
In the English League Cup, Manchester United was stunned 3-2 by Brighton after squandering a two-goal lead to crash out in round three.
In the Europa League, Benfica beat AC Milan 2-0 on the road in the first round of the league stage.
With his hat trick, Raphinha took his league-leading tally to nine goals in six matches. The Brazil forward has scored a goal in all but one game this season.
“Happy for the goals and for the victory, which is the most important thing,” Raphinha said. “The players have the hunger to always want more. It’s a mentality to always try to score more goals and to create more scoring opportunities.”
João Cancelo also netted for Barcelona, which was helped by an own-goal from Racing’s Asier Villalibre. Maguette Gueye and Yassir Zabiri scored for the visitor.
Barcelona has only failed to score less than four goals this season in a 2-0 win against Athletic Bilbao.
Yamal had a goal disallowed for offside, missed a penalty and hit the post before finally scoring late for Barcelona.
The La Liga champion has also crushed Elche, Rayo Vallecano and Valencia in the league, and Feyenoord in the Champions League.
Hansi Flick's team has outscored opponents 33-7 in seven games across all competitions. Barcelona has a three-point league lead over Real Madrid, which won at Elche on Tuesday.
Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García was replaced by Wojciech Szczesny at halftime because of an apparent injury. Szczesny's blunder led to a Racing goal after the goalkeeper tried to control the ball inside the area and was robbed in front of the net.
Atletico Madrid routed visiting Osasuna 4-0 with goals by Jonathan David, Lee Kang-In, Robin Le Normand and Álex Baena.
It was the second win in a row for Diego Simeone's team, which moved to third. Osasuna has lost three in a row.
Sevilla jumped to fourth by winning 1-0 at Deportivo La Coruña with a second-half goal by Miguel Sierra. Sevilla has won two in a row. Deportivo stayed seventh.
The game between Levante and Athletic Bilbao was postponed because of heavy rain in the city of Valencia.
Manchester United was booed at Old Trafford after it fell to a third defeat of the season, and second in as many games following Sunday’s loss to Manchester City.
“We had the game exactly where we wanted it and and let it get away from us in a big way,” United coach Michael Carrick told Sky Sports. “We can’t accept that as a group. I take responsibility for it.”
United led 2-0 after 10 minutes through goals from Shea Lacey and Mason Mount. But Brighton rallied with Charalampos Kostoulas pulling one back before halftime, and Pascal Gross and Maxim De Cuyper secured victory after the break.
Defeat means United has suffered elimination from the League Cup at the earliest stage for the second season in a row after being knocked out by fourth-tier Grimsby last year.
Benfica beat AC Milan in the highlight match in the Europa League.
Dodi Lukébakio and Jakub Kaminski scored a goal in each half for the Portuguese club.
Sparta Prague won 4-1 at Ararat-Armenia for the round's biggest victory.
Sunderland beat visiting AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in its first European match in more than seven decades. Lyon won 2-1 at Anderlecht, while Bayer Leverkusen defeated visiting Celje 2-0.
Celta Vigo's winless start to the season reached seven matches after a 1-0 loss at Omonia.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Benfica players celebrate at the end of the Europa League opening phase soccer match between AC Milan and Benfica in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Brighton's Maxim De Cuyper, front right, scores his side's third goal during the English League Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Brighton's Maxim De Cuyper, right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English League Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Racing's Juan Carlos Arana vies for the ball with Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, right, during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Racing de Santander in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Raphinha celebrates with Gavi, right, after scoring his side's fifth goal from the penalty spot during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Racing de Santander in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
