Player of the Game
The Indians starting pitching has been so incredible during the current winning streak that it’s nearly inconceivable that they could simply continue, let alone improve upon their performances, yet Carlos Carrasco did it tonight. He held a powerful Blue Jays line-up to just three hits and five total base runners over 7.1 innings, but more impressive were his strike out numbers. Carrasco K’d 14 total including each of his final six outs in the game before a ground rule double ended his night.
Feathers Up
The Indians first two batters reached base safely tonight, but they were kept from scoring by some nice pitching from knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. It would turn out to be much easier scoring without runners on as Rajai Davis hit a solo home run in the second on a first pitch knuckler and Jason Kipnis hit a solo shot the next inning on a first pitch fastball to give the Tribe a 2-0 lead.
Poor defense allowed the Indians to extend their lead in the ninth before the Blue Jays last chance to come back against Cody Allen. Rajai Davis hit one of the cheapest doubles possible on a pop fly that landed just beyond first base in right field, then Tyler Naquin turned an attempted diving play by Ezequiel Carrera in right into an RBI triple. After a shaky eighth and a less than perfect performance by Allen his last time out, the insurance run was much appreciated.
After Carrasco was pulled from the game, it took a little time, but Shaw eventually struck out two batters to end the inning, then Allen opened up the ninth with another K giving the Indians 17 as a team and a strike out for nine straight outs at one point. The streak ended with one out in the ninth when Edwin Encarnacion popped out to short.
With 13 straight wins, the Indians have tied their franchise record winning streak. It is just the third such streak in Indians history, the first since 1951 (the other was in 1942). This pushes the team record to 48-30 although it appears as though another Royals win could keep the division lead at just six. While the 4-1 win wasn’t as impressive as some, it improved the Indians run differential over the streak to 79-25. Overall in June, the Indians went 22-6 as they look to continue the hot stretch into July.
Feathers Down
The Blue Jays scored their lone run on a solo, first pitch home run, just like the Indians scored their first two. In the fourth with two outs, Josh Donaldson took Carrasco deep on a change-up. Besides that one, Carrasco was nearly unhittable, allowing just one single and two walks over the first seven innings.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 4 – Toronto Blue Jays 1
On Deck: Josh Tomlin will try to be strong as Marcus Stroman tomorrow as the Indians and Blue Jays will play a sneaky 1:07 PM Friday start. In fact, all three of the remaining games in this four game set will begin at 1:07 PM in Toronto.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
