Hitless Blue Jays can't support Gausman's strong outing

DETROIT -- Kevin Gausman and the Blue Jays’ bullpen held up their end of the bargain on Saturday afternoon.

Led by Gausman -- who announced after the game that he will forego participating in the 2023 All-Star Game -- Toronto’s hurlers made the contest a true pitching duel. But they weren’t up to what Tigers starter Matt Manning and relievers Jason Foley and Alex Lange did on the mound, handing the Blue Jays a 2-0 loss in no-hit fashion in front of 30,621 fans at Comerica Park.

It was the seventh no-hitter against the Blue Jays, and the first since Justin Verlander, then a member of the Astros, held them hitless on Sept. 1, 2019. Verlander also threw a no-no in Toronto for the Tigers on May 7, 2011.

“You tip your cap to good pitching,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “We hit some balls hard early. Javy [Báez] made a great play on Bo [Bichette]’s ball that I thought was going to fall. … And you move on.”

Bichette, who entered the game leading the American League with 122 hits and a .323 batting average, hit a high floater that hung up long enough for Detroit’s shortstop to catch it on the run near the foul line in left in the sixth inning. Báez looked like a football wide receiver running a pass route.

Matt Chapman hit a ball in the hole in the fourth inning that third baseman Zach McKinstry dove for, snared and came up with to throw him out.

“That was a good play,” said Schneider, noting that right fielder Kerry Carpenter’s running, diving grab in foul territory against Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the fourth also stood out. “They made good plays, and that’s usually what happens [in no-hitters].”

Manning had five strikeouts. Foley and Lange had one apiece.

The loss broke a four-game road winning streak for Toronto.

“You go from scoring 12 [in Friday night’s 12-2 win] to a day like today,” said Schneider. “It’s part of baseball. You just flush it and move on.”

Bichette and Brandon Belt opened the top of the ninth inning. They stood together in the on-deck circle, sizing up Lange, the Tigers’ closer, as he warmed up. Bichette swung and missed at the first three pitches for out No. 1. After showing bunt, Belt hit a fly ball to center for the second out.

“I would’ve a 100 percent bunted right there, but the pitch was outside,” said Belt. “But we’re trying to win a ballgame. It’s a two-run game. If it’s a six- or seven-run game, that’s a little different. But [in] a two-run game, we need baserunners. I was honestly shocked that they played back that far [on the infield].

“[Manning] got stronger as the game went on. His fastball was real lively. He started hitting the corners a lot more. He was tough today -- there’s no doubt about it. And they brought in two really good pitchers after that.”

That left it up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who batted against Lange with two out in the ninth. Guerrero pulled one foul down the third-base line before hitting a grounder. McKinstry moved to his left and gathered before throwing him out.

“Getting no-hit is a little embarrassing, for sure,” said Belt. “But we get hits to win a ballgame. We don’t get hits to not get no-hit. … Their pitchers were better than our hitters today.”

Gausman finished the first half at 7-5 despite a 3.03 ERA that is tied for 12th the Major Leagues and 153 strikeouts, which ranks second.

He was named an All-Star for the second time, also getting the nod in 2021, but he won’t travel to Seattle to play in the Midsummer classic this year.

“I’m obviously honored to be selected,” said Gausman. “But I’m not going to go. I’m going to use the time to spend with my daughters. Just looking at the schedule -- we go to Seattle a week later and that had a little bit to do with it. But more than anything, I want to use the break as a break, and hang out with my family. I could use the time off and just recuperate.”

Gausman’s 115 2/3 innings pitched are the most on Toronto’s pitching staff.

Detroit got to Gausman early on Saturday, scoring twice in the first inning. The rain made it difficult for both starting pitchers early on, as Manning hit a batter and walked another to begin his day. But Gausman settled in after that first frame, allowing just two more singles to complete six innings of two-run ball on five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

“He was solid as he always is,” Schneider said of Gausman. “First inning, a little weird, just some balls down the middle of the zone in what weren’t ideal conditions for either pitcher. Then he settled in, typical Kev, and cruised right along.”

Added Gausman: “Honestly, I thought Manning had the worst of it in the top of the first. In that regard, I don’t have much to complain about. We did a pretty good job after that. My command in the first definitely wasn’t what it was after that.’’

However, with a no-hitter going on the other side, there was no way to recover for a victory after that tough first inning.