Game recap: Bats come alive as Blue Jays top Tigers

Daulton Varsho, making his spring debut, got things going in the 2nd inning by crushing the first pitch he saw over the left-field for a solo home run. The very next batter, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., homered to centre to give the Blue Jays an early 2-0 lead.

In the top of the fourth however, Detroit's Kerry Carpenter hit a two-run shot off Yariel Rodriguez to tie the score.

Then the floodgates opened.

After loading the bases on two singles and a hit-by-pitch, Alejandro Kirk hit a sac fly, Ernie Clement singled, Nathan Lukes doubled, and Myles Straw to put the Blue Jays ahead 6-2. Varsho added an RBI fielder's choice, Guerrero singled home a run, and George Springer capped it off with a 2-run double to make it 10-2 before the inning was over.

The Tigers made things interesting by getting four back in the top of the fifth off Rodriguez and minor league Ryan Boyer to make it 10-6 and added one more in the eighth offAnders Tolhurst to close the gap but the Blue Jays held on for the win.

Chris Bassitt was solid in first spring start, striking out four while giving up only one hit in 2.2 innings.

Rodriguez had his second rough outing of the Grapefruit League season, surrendering four runs in just 1.2 innings.

New Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman also made his first spring appearance, garnering a strikeout in a scoreless sixth inning.

Tolhurst picked up the save after working the final three innings as the Blue Jays improved to 4-2 in pre-season action.

The Blue Jays play another game tonight against the Yankees in Tampa. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 ET.