Music: {allcanada} Jays hold off Tigers

TORONTO -- The secret to Brandon Morrow's success at home may lie underneath the Blue Jays' starter's feet.

Morrow allowed five hits and one run and struck out nine in six innings Saturday as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Detroit Tigers 5-4.

When asked why he pitches so well at Rogers Centre, Morrow, who have won five successive decisions, suggested he likes the feel of the pitching mound.

"It's just comfortable," Morrow said. "It's a great mound to pitch off. I don't know, I've just really felt good at home I guess."

Morrow (10-6) picked up his eighth victory in his past 12 starts at home after the Blue Jays withstood a three-run ninth-inning rally before a crowd of 27,119. Kevin Gregg got the final out for his 30th save.

Miguel Cabrera's 33rd homer of the season was the lone run Detroit scored on Morrow.

Morrow has not lost at Rogers Centre since he allowed seven runs in four innings to the Chicago White Sox on April 14, his first home start of the season.

Since then he has a 2.08 earned-run average at home and lost a no-hitter with two out in the ninth there on Aug. 8 when he pitched a one-hitter in a 1-0 win over Tampa Bay.

He is 2-5 with a 6.31 earned-run average in 12 starts on the road.

Morrow, who has a fastball in the mid-to-high 90s and a wicked slider that gives left-handed hitters trouble, said he's learning how to pitch better with runners on base.

"Before I might have tried to go harder in those situations," said Morrow, "where maybe sometimes it better to back off and make sure you make your pitch instead of just trying to blow the ball buy a guy."

Morrow came out after six innings and 98 pitches.

"He did a good job," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "He's going to throw a lot of pitches because he strikes people out. Any time you strike out a lot of people you're going to throw a lot of pitches."

Tigers' right-hander Alfredo Figaro (0-2) allowed eight hits -- including a two-run triple by Jose Bautista in the first -- and five runs in five-plus innings in his first major-league start this season and the fourth of his career.

He was replacing Jeremy Bonderman who was scratched because of a sore right side.

The Blue Jays have won two in a row in the four-game series after losing Thursday's opener 7-1.

The Blue Jays took a 5-1 lead into the ninth but reliever Scott Downs hit pinch-hitter Austin Jackson and Ryan Raburn doubled. Downs loaded the bases with one out on a walk to pinch-hitter Jhonny Peralta, then gave up a run on a ground out to first.

Gregg entered and gave up a two-run double to Casper Wells before striking out Ramon Santiago to end the game.

Bautista hit his third triple of the season to score two runs in the first and came home on a ground out by Vernon Wells to give the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead.

Designated hitter Fred Lewis led off with a walk, stole second and took third on Yunel Escobar's single to left to set up Bautista's drive to right centre that put him at 99 runs batted in for the season.

Detroit got one run back in the second when Cabrera led off with a homer.

The Blue Jays restored the three-run lead in the third on Adam Lind's double to right that scored Escobar who was running on the 2-2 pitch. Escobar led off the inning with a single.

The Blue Jays could not score in the fourth after Travis Snider led off with a double and Edwin Encarnacion followed with a single.

After Jose Molina popped out, Lewis hit a grounder that was deflected by Figaro to third baseman Brandon Inge who threw home. Snider was called out by plate umpire Phil Cuzzi although a video replay indicated he was safe.

Morrow helped his own cause with a good defensive play in the fifth. With runners at first and third after an error and a hit, Morrow fielded a chopper along the first-base line by Will Rhymes. Morrow made the throw home to get Inge. Morrow also started a double play in the first.

The Blue Jays increased the lead to 5-1 in the sixth. Aaron Hill led off with a double and continued to third when right-fielder Brennan Boesch bobbled the ball. Left-hander Brad Thomas replaced Figaro and gave up a double to Snider.

Notes: Encarnacion was put on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left wrist after Saturday's game and infielder Mike McCoy has been recalled from triple-A Las Vegas to take his place. Encarnacion injured his wrist swinging the bat when he grounded out in the seventh and was replaced in the eighth by John McDonald... Bautista was thrown out trying for his second triple of the game in the seventh... First baseman Lyle Overbay, who left the Blue Jays' 3-2 victory on Friday after the fifth inning because of illness, did not play Saturday. Adam Lind played first for Overbay who stayed home... Hill, who batted eighth in the previous three games, batted sixth on Saturday... The series ends Sunday with Rick Porcello (6-11, 5.43 ERA) facing Marc Rzepczynski (1-2, 6.31 ERA). The Blue Jays are on the road for the next six games against the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees.