Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) – Jason Kipnis went 4-for-5 with a solo home
run, two RBI and three runs scored as the Cleveland Indians grabbed a 10-7
over the Toronto Blue Jays to split a four-game set.
Michael Brantley, Brandon Moss and Ryan Raburn each drove in a pair of runs
for the Indians, who had lost six of eight coming into the contest.
Trevor Bauer was clobbered for six runs on seven hits while walking three and
striking out one over 4 1/3 innings. Marc Rzepczynski (1-0) got the win for an
inning of scoreless relief.
Devon Travis clubbed a grand slam, Russell Martin hit a solo home run, while
Michael Saunders and Ezequiel Carrera each drove in a run for the Blue Jays,
who have lost seven of 10.
Drew Hutchison allowed six runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings, while Jeff
Francis (1-1) was handed the loss after allowing two runs.
The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the home third as Kipnis clubbed a two-out,
full-count shot over the wall in right-center for his third home run of
the year.
Toronto, though, was able to go on top in the fourth thanks to some poor
fielding choices from Cleveland. Saunders had tied the game with a single to
left that left runners at the corners and Ryan Goins followed with a grounder
to first.
Santana fielded the ball and was able to catch Kevin Pillar off third, but
he tried to run Pillar down himself and Pillar was able to get back to
third, leaving the bases loaded. Carrera then hit a high chopper back to the
mound that Bauer grabbed, but he was unsure where to go and by the time he
tossed the ball to first Carrera was able to beat it out for a 2-1 lead and
the bases still loaded. Travis then crushed an 0-1 pitch over the wall in
left-center for a 6-1 advantage.
Cleveland got a run back in the fourth on a sac fly from Moss, then used a
six-run fifth to take the lead.
Kipnis drove in a run with a single, and Jose Ramirez followed with a double
that saw Carrera get a glove on in a diving attempt to make the catch, but the
ball fell out and a run scored.
After Jeff Francis took the mound, Brantley singled to left to score two more,
and Raburn’s two-run double made it an 8-6 game.
Santana worked a bases loaded walk in the sixth to bring home another run, and
Moss followed with a sac fly for a 10-6 lead.
Martin’s two-out solo home run in the ninth accounted for the final score.
Game Notes
Cleveland plays three in Kansas City starting on Tuesday … Toronto hosts the
Yankees for three games starting on Monday … Cleveland was 5-for-11 with
runners in scoring position, while Toronto went 3-for-10.
