DETROIT -- A solid start from J.A. Happ and three home runs helped lead the Blue Jays to a 7-3 win over the Tigers on Thursday at Comerica Park, Toronto's first sweep in Detroit in 11 years. The Blue Jays have now won five straight games and 17 of their past 20.
Happ allowed three runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings and recorded his fifth win.
The scoring began in the third inning. Nick Castellanos led off the bottom frame with a double for Detroit.
 
Blue Jays beat Tigers 7-3 for 3-game sweep
 
He scored on a triple by Ian Kinsler, who then came home on a sac fly from Torii Hunter, giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
The Blue Jays answered in the fourth. Outfielder Jose Bautista led off and reached second after miscommunication between Tigers outfielders let a ball drop. First baseman Adam Lind singled and infielder Brett Lawrie walked, loading the bases with one out. Designated hitter Dioner Navarro singled home a run and catcher Erik Kratz singled home two more, giving the Jays a 3-2 lead.
Happ allowed back-to-back singles to open the fifth before a mound visit. Two straight groundouts to third brought home the tying run for Detroit.
The Blue Jays took the lead back in the sixth. Lind led off with a walk, and third baseman Juan Francisco took a Verlander changeup to right field for a two-run homer. Lawrie followed with one to the left-field seats, marking the fifth time this season the Blue Jays have hit back-to-back home runs.
It was the 10th home runs of the season for both Francisco and Lawrie, giving the Blue Jays four players with at least 10. Verlander had only allowed four home runs on the season, and the two Thursday were the most in a start for him this year.
Melky Cabrera became the fifth Blue Jays player with 10 homers when he went yard in the ninth inning to extend the lead to 7-3.
After allowing a walk and a foul out to start the seventh, Happ's day was done. Right-hander Chad Jenkins came in and allowed a single, but then induced a 1-6-3 double play to get out of the jam -- the fourth double play Toronto turned on the day.
Jenkins was pulled after allowing two baserunners with two outs in the ninth, and closer Casey Janssen came on to record the game's final out on one pitch.
The Blue Jays look to continue their winning streak in a home series against the Cardinals this weekend.
Chris Vannini / Special to MLB.com
 

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