the end of the 2010 season and the beginning of 2

DETROIT -- John Gibbons was all smiles in the visiting managers office after his Toronto Blue Jays wrapped up yet another sweep of one of the American Leagues most successful teams. "Were feeling good right now," Gibbons said. "Were confident, and were playing good baseball. Were rolling." Juan Francisco and Brett Lawrie hit consecutive home runs in the sixth inning off Justin Verlander, and the Blue Jays completed their first series sweep of the Detroit Tigers since 2004 with a 7-3 victory Thursday. The AL East-leading Blue Jays have won 19 of 23, including sweeps of defending champion Boston, AL West-leading Oakland and AL Central-leading Detroit. "Its a great atmosphere -- weve got a lot of positivity in here," Lawrie said. "Everyone likes to have fun, and everybodys comfortable with one another." J.A. Happ (5-2) allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings for Toronto. Casey Janssen got the final out for his 10th save in 11 chances. He needed only one pitch to retire Nick Castellanos on a line drive to left with two on. Melky Cabrera also homered for the Blue Jays. Verlander (6-5) allowed six runs -- five earned -- and eight hits in seven innings. He walked four and struck out four. Toronto scored three runs each in the fourth and sixth. "My fastball was great today, but I just missed some off-speed pitches," Verlander said. "If I execute those four or five pitches, this would have been a fantastic game. I feel like Im turning the corner with the mechanical adjustments Ive made. I know the results dont reflect that, but I felt great out there." With the score tied at 3, Adam Lind drew a leadoff walk in the sixth. Francisco followed with a homer to right, and Lawries drive to left made it 6-3. "Against a guy like that, you cant really be on your heels," said Lawrie, who did not have an at-bat against Verlander before Thursday. "Youve got to be ready to go. Worked a couple good at-bats against him today, and ended up putting one in play, and it ended up being big for us." It was the 10th homer of the season for both Francisco and Lawrie. Toronto has hit a major league-leading 87. The Blue Jays won despite the absence of slugger Edwin Encarnacion, who missed the game with a back issue. The Tigers are still in first place, but they should no longer feel too comfortable after dropping 13 of their last 17. The last time Detroit endured a 4-13 stretch spanned the end of the 2010 season and the beginning of 2011, according to STATS. In 2011, of course, the Tigers began a streak of three straight division titles theyre now hoping to extend. Detroit scored twice in the third and once in the fifth, but the Blue Jays had an answer each time. Ian Kinsler opened the scoring for Detroit with an RBI triple and scored on Torii Hunters sacrifice fly. But Jose Bautista led off the fourth with a flyball that Hunter and centre fielder Austin Jackson each seemed to expect the other to catch. Hunter ended up trying to make the play at the last second, and the right fielder was charged with a two-base error. The Blue Jays eventually loaded the bases with one out, and Dioner Navarro hit an RBI single. Erik Kratz followed with a two-run single to put Toronto ahead. Kinsler tied it in the fifth with an RBI groundout, but Toronto took the lead back for good the following inning. Cabrera capped the scoring with a solo shot in the ninth, and he has 10 homers on the season as well. NOTES: Castellanos had three hits. ... Bautista extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a first-inning single. ... Detroit hosts the Red Sox on Friday night. The Tigers send LHP Drew Smyly (2-4) to the mound against Boston RHP Rubby De La Rosa (1-0). ... Toronto hosts St. Louis. Blue Jays RHP Marcus Stroman (2-0) takes on Cardinals RHP Lance Lynn (6-3). O. J. Simpson Jersey . The international synchronized skating competition takes place from January 31 - February 1, 2014, and features 39 teams from 10 countries, in senior, junior, and novice. Bruce Smith Jersey . No, the San Antonio star didnt announce retirement plans during an off day at the NBA Finals on Wednesday. http://www.shoptheofficialbills.com/Elite-Jim-Kelly-Bills-Jersey/ . Though the 26-year-old said he was able to participate, coach Dwane Casey kept Johnson out as a precaution. Doug Flutie Jersey . Neither made it that far in 2013. Not even close. Federer lost his second match at the All England Club. Nadal exited in the first round, a year after bowing out in the second. Buffalo Bills Jerseys . LOUIS -- David Ross never expected to be on a World Series podium.Thumbs up to what is now, and, at this rate, will surely be at the end of the season, an interesting and completely wide-open Hart Trophy debate. The NHL reaches the exact mid-point of its schedule on this night of January 10th, and you are hereby invited to cast your vote for the most valuable player….so far. The leading point-getter is Jakub Voracek of the Philadelphia Flyers, currently a non-playoff team. The leading goal-scorer is Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars, currently a non-playoff team. You want to vote for Sidney Crosby? Thats a debate all its own. A goalie? Same thing, but if youre okay with a goalie, youve got Nashvilles Pekka Rinne or Montreals Carey Price. Defenceman? Nashvilles terrific first half brings Shea Weber to mind. Does Tampa Bays terrific first half bring Steven Stamkos to mind? Perhaps, but you might want to be mentioning Tyler Johnson instead. I give you now the choice that is most easily supported and least likely to bring howls of What? Really?--that is Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf. Seventh in the scoring race, captain of the team that has been at or near the top of the standings much of the way, and especially valuable during the 14 games played without Corey Perry on his right side. -- To Brendan Shanahan, heres a thumbs up, that, until yesterday, was a thumbs down. Im not suggesting that Shanahans meeting with Maple Leaf players and his message to fans via various media interviews contributed directly to the Leafs 17-shot, four-goal first-period explosion against Columbus, but Im not prepared to call it coincidental either.dddddddddddd Not until three days after coach Randy Carlyle was fired was Shanahan seen or heard from. He might prefer the background to centre stage, but hes the team president and it is his team. Since being hired last April, he has retained and fired Carlyle, fired and replaced a staff of assistant coaches, and fired and replaced two of general manager Dave Nonis assistants while also adding a player personnel director, never mind whatever input he has had on player moves. Shanahan needs to be out front because hes the only one who can be under the Leafs awkward corporate setup. His boss, MLSE president and CEO Tim Leiweke, is waiting to be replaced or to leave when his contract expires in June, and is virtually persona non grata when it comes to representing the organization. The owners dont speak to such mundane matters as hockey results because theyre too busy with more important things and with battling each other in those other businesses. Nonis owns the title of general manager and does the work of a general manager, which means he does briefings, but when sermons need to be delivered, its Shanahan who must step forward. 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