Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter misplays a triple hit by the Toronto Blue Jays’ Kevin Kiermaier during the ninth inning Thursday in Detroit. (AP photo)

DETROIT (AP) — Kevin Gausman struck out a season-best 10 in six innings, Daulton Varsho hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh and Toronto pulled away for a 9-1 victory over the skidding Detroit Tigers on Thursday night.

“I didn’t think I had the stuff to strike out 10 guys tonight, but I was able to command my pitches,” Gausman said. “We were 0-1 on just about every hitter, and when you do that, you become the aggressor.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Isiah Kiner-Falefa also went deep as the Blue Jays won for the fourth time in five games. Bo Bichette had three hits.

Detroit (23-27) has lost five straight.

“This team is working hard,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “Effort is a lot different than a win-loss record.”

Detroit Tigers starter Michael Fulmer pitches at Fenway Park on May 4, 2021, against the Red Sox in Boston. (AP file photo)

Gausman (3-3) allowed one run and three hits for Toronto, while Jack Flaherty (1-4) gave up three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings for the Tigers. He struck out nine.

The Tigers didn’t get a hit until Javier Baez led off the sixth with a single. Carson Kelly followed with another base hit, then with two outs, Wenceel Perez hit a tying single to right-center, but Kiermaier threw out Kelly at the plate to keep it 1-all.

“I loved the plan we had coming into the game, but we still have to go out and execute it,” Hinch said. “That gets tougher and tougher when the struggles start piling on you.”

Daniel Vogelbach opened the seventh with a single off the wall in right-center. One out later, Varsho put the Blue Jays up 3-1 with his team-high ninth homer.

“That really sucked,” Flaherty said. “Gausman was really good tonight, so when we get one across, the seventh has to be a shutdown inning. I’ve got to be better.”

Toronto tacked on three more runs in the eighth. With one out, Danny Jansen walked and went to third on Guerrero’s double. RBI singles by Bichette and Justin Turner made it 5-1, and George Springer followed with a sacrifice fly.

Jansen added an RBI double in the ninth and Guerrero followed with his fifth homer.

“I was impressed with how we added runs against their bullpen, which is something we’ve been talking about for a long time,” Schneider said. “It was nice to see the home runs and nice to see the doubles.”

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