TORONTO - Max Scherzer worked into the seventh inning to become the first pitcher in 27 years to get off to a 13-0 start, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.
Alex Avila hit a three-run home run and Victor Martinez belted a home run as Detroit beat Toronto for the eighth time in 10 meetings.
Scherzer allowed 2 runs and 7 hits, struck out 8 and walked 1 in 6 1/3 innings. He is the first pitcher to begin the season with 13 victories and no losses since Roger Clemens won his first 14 decisions for the Boston Red Sox in 1986.
Scherzer also improved to 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA in six career starts against the Blue Jays. He has 139 strikeouts this season, second only to Texas’ Yu Darvish among AL starters.
Bruce Rondon got two outs in the seventh, Drew Smyly (Little Rock Central, Arkansas Razorbacks) pitched the eighth and Joaquin Benoit finished for the Tigers.
The Blue Jays dropped to 3-7 since matching a team record with an 11-game winning streak.
Both benches and bullpens emptied after Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter (Pine Bluff) took exception to being hit by a high pitch from Todd Redmond in the sixth.
Hunter took a few steps toward the mound and gestured at Redmond after being hit on the left shoulder. Plate umpire Mike Estabrook quickly steered Hunter away and he was wrapped up by teammate Prince Fielder.
No punches were thrown, and the relievers from both teams were pointed back to their bullpens before reaching the infield.
ASTROS 4, RAYS 1 Chris Carter hit two home runs, including a go-ahead three-run shot in the seventh, to back seven strong innings from Bud Norris (6-7) and give host Houston a victory over Tampa Bay.
MARINERS 4, RANGERS 2 Kyle Seager hit a two-run home run in the 10th inning, and Seattle won consecutive games in Texas for the first time in more than a year.
ORIOLES 4, WHITE SOX 2 Chris Davis hit his major league-leading 32nd home run and added a tie breaking two-run double to lead visiting Baltimore to a victory over Chicago.
YANKEES 3, TWINS 2 CC Sabathia (9-6) won his 200th career game and Robinson Cano hit a tying two-run double to spark visiting New York in a victory over the Twins.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
BREWERS 4, NATIONALS 1 Kyle Lohse (4-6) allowed 1 run and 4 hits, and had a season-high 7 strikeouts in 8 sharp innings on short rest and visiting Milwaukee beat Washington.
DODGERS 10, ROCKIES 8 Hanley Ramirez had four hits, including a home run in the ninth, to help visiting Los Angeles hold off Colorado.
MARLINS 6, BRAVES 3 Ricky Nolasco (5-8) pitched seven strong innings amid persistent trade rumors, Justin Ruggiano hit a three-run home run and visiting Miami beat Atlanta.
PIRATES 6, PHILLIES 5 Jeff Locke (8-1) ran his personal winning streak to eight games, Pedro Alvarez hit a three-run home run and host Pittsburgh hung on to beat Philadelphia. Locke allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits and 3 walks over 5 2/3 innings.
REDS 3, GIANTS 2 Shin-Soo Choo’s two-out single in the 11th inning drove in Todd Frazier from second base, lifting host Cincinnati to a victory over San Francisco.
DIAMONDBACKS 5, METS 3 Randall Delgado (1-2) out pitched Matt Harvey (7-2) for his first major league victory in more than a year and visiting Arizona snapped a five-game losing streak with a victory over New York.
INTERLEAGUE
RED SOX 2, PADRES 1 Pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes hit a home run to lead off the ninth inning to lift host Boston to a victory over San Diego. Mike Carp had two hits and scored a run for Boston. Koji Uehara (2-0) pitched one inning for the victory.
Wednesday’s games
NATIONAL LEAGUE Milwaukee 4, Washington 1 Pittsburgh 6, Philadelphia 5 Arizona 5, NY Mets 3 Miami 6, Atlanta 3 Cincinnati 3, San Francisco 2 (11) LA Dodgers 10, Colorado 8
AMERICAN LEAGUE Detroit 6, Toronto 2 Baltimore 4, Chicago White Sox 2 Seattle 4, Texas 2 (10) NY Yankees 3, Minnesota 2 Houston 4, Tampa Bay 1 Cleveland at Kansas City, (n)
INTERLEAGUE Boston 2, San Diego 1 Chicago Cubs at Oakland, (n) St. Louis at LA Angels, (n)
Sports, Pages 24 on 07/04/2013