Hernandez 3-run homer leads Blue Jays past Tigers

Teoscar Hernandez’s three-run homer lifted the Toronto Blue Jays against the Detroit Tigers 5-3 on Saturday.

Ross Stripling allowed five hits for two runs, striking out five in 4 1/3 innings.

Adam Cimber, Trevor Richards (3-0), Yimi Garcia and Jordan Romano exited the Blue Jays, with Romano making his 23rd save of the season.

Riley Greene had an RBI double for Detroit (41-61), with Jonathan Schoop and Kody Clemens also bringing home runners.

Drew Hutchison allowed just two hits and three walks for one run in five innings with three strikeouts. Reliever Derek Law (0-1) took the loss after giving up four runs. Angel De Jesus, Jose Cisnero haven’t given up any races during their appearances.

Hutchison, who played for Toronto in 2012, 2014 and 2015, has the best winning percentage at Rogers Center among pitchers with at least 20 starts there. He earned a no-decision decision Saturday, keeping his winning percentage of .750 (21-7), better than Blue Jays Hall of Famer Roy Halladay’s .712 (84-34), among others.

Gurriel put the Blue Jays on the board early with a right field single scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the first inning. Guerrero had put himself in position to score by stealing the second. It was the great first baseman’s second stolen base in three attempts this season.

Blue Jays interim manager John Schneider has encouraged his players — even bigger players like Guerrero — to be more aggressive on base runs since taking over from Charlie Montoyo on July 13. Guerrero’s two stolen bases have come since the managerial change.

Stripling struggled in the fifth, giving up back-to-back singles to start the inning, bringing Schoop home. A Stripling pitch bounced off the bottom of Schoop’s bat and the Toronto starter fielded the ball, tossing it to third baseman Matt Chapman for an apparent forced out, then Chapman relayed it to first for what seemed like a double game.

But the Tigers disputed the play and after video review officials ruled Stripling’s pitch hit Schoop’s hands, not his bat button. It gave Schoop a bye at first base and canceled the out at third.

Schoop veered on another run in the next inning, with his single right field giving Jeimer Candelario time to race home from second. Candelario had reached base after Cimber hit him with a pitch.

Toronto rallied in the bottom of the sixth to regain the lead.

Bichette hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded, scoring George Springer. That brought Hernandez to the plate and he wasted no time sending a pitch to the center of the field for a three-run homer, scoring Guerrero and Gurriel for a 5-3 lead.