Colt Keith hit his first home run in the major leagues, and Kenta Maeda pitched five innings without letting the Toronto Blue Jays score, helping the Detroit Tigers win 6-2 on Friday night and break a five-game losing streak.
A fan who holds a season ticket caught the ball and gave it to Keith on the field, where he signed a bat for the fan. Later, the ball was displayed in a glass case at Keith’s locker.
“It feels like I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” said the 22-year-old second baseman. “It happened so fast, it felt like a dream.”
Keith hit the home run in the second inning on a full-count pitch from Alek Manoah, sending it 400 feet to right field. Manoah threw a hanging changeup, and Keith took full advantage of it.
“He made a good swing,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “He’s a talented young player.”
Keith has been showing potential, and the Tigers had high hopes for him when they signed him to a contract worth $28 million guaranteed in January, even though he had only played in the minor leagues. In his last eight games, he has gotten 14 hits.
“I’m feeling more relaxed every day, and I’m starting to see the ball better,” he said. Maeda, who had been on the injured list since May 7 due to illness, returned strong, giving up four hits without walking a batter.
Beau Brieske pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, and Will Vest got one out in the eighth inning.
The Blue Jays avoided being shut out in the ninth inning, scoring two runs on singles from Davis Schneider and Alejandro Kirk. Andrew Chafin was replaced by Jason Foley, who got the final out and his 11th save by retiring Danny Jansen on a chopper to third with two runners on base.
Manoah allowed six runs, four of which were earned, on five hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings. Despite this, Schneider felt that Manoah pitched well.
