DETROIT – One day after saying he might be one good swing away from turning things around offensively, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. put a great swing on a pitch from Jack Flaherty.

Once his line drive to left field sailed into the visiting bullpen at Comerica Park, the struggling first baseman had the chance to enjoy a home run trot for the first time in nearly a month.

Soon afterwards, he was shaking hands with Jesús Sánchez at home plate, donning the team home run jacket courtesy of Yohendrick Piñango and listening to Blue Jays fans chant his name. It was all rather familiar if long overdue for a player whose last home run trot happened 27 days ago. 

That swing was also a sign of good things to come for the Blue Jays, as they scored four runs off Flaherty on the way to a 4-1 win that gives them a series win over the Tigers and a 21-25 record on the season.

Starter Kevin Gausman did his part, limiting the Tigers to just four hits over six innings while striking out five. The dependable right-hander lowered his season ERA to 3.45 on a day he didn’t issue a walk.

After Gausman’s departure, the Blue Jays attempted to rest some of their most trusted relievers, turning instead to Yariel Rodríguez and Joe Mantiply, who covered the seventh and eighth while allowing one run before Tyler Rogers closed things out for his first save of the season.

In the course of three games at Comerica Park, the Blue Jays combined to allow just five runs – an impressive effort by a pitching staff that’s lost major contributors to the injured list including Cody Ponce, José Berríos, Max Scherzer, Shane Bieber and Yimi Garcia.

Of course the biggest questions for this team exist on offence right now. George Springer and his .566 OPS were on the bench Sunday with Piñango batting leadoff in his place. That bumped Guerrero Jr. to the No. 2 spot in the batting order for the first time this season.

Historically, his numbers are far better hitting third, with a .774 OPS hitting second compared to an .898 OPS hitting third. While Guerrero Jr. has always been said to prefer hitting third, the switch worked for at least one game as he also singled to centre field.

The other offensive difference maker was Daulton Varsho, who doubled and tripled while scoring twice. That’s an encouraging development for a team that needs all the offence it can get, but the Blue Jays combined for just seven hits.

From here, the Blue Jays head to Yankee Stadium for their first visit to the Bronx since winning last year’ ALDS. It’s a tough assignment, but after a couple of hard-fought wins in Detroit the Blue Jays are finally trending in the right direction again.