Ryan Raburn came through with a big double in the seventh inning and Cody Allen escaped a bases-loaded situation in the eighth as the Indians survived to secure a 4-2 victory over the Blue Jays on Monday night at Rogers Centre.
The loss for Toronto didn’t impact its 1 1/2-game lead in the American League East over the Yankees, who lost in Boston, 4-3. Cleveland, which has won six straight, moved to four games behind the Rangers for the second AL Wild Card spot after Texas lost, 7-0, in San Diego.
The majority of the credit for the Indians’ victory goes to their pitching staff after right-hander Danny Salazar limited the high-powered Toronto offense to two runs over seven innings. Allen then entered with one on and two outs in the eighth and proceeded to load the bases before preserving the lead with a strikeout of Justin Smoak.
“That’s the guy. He’s done that now for a couple of years. That’s when you want him pitching,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of Allen.
The Blue Jays had one last shot in the ninth when Kevin Pillar and Ryan Goins hit a pair of one-out singles. Allen then got Ben Revere to pop up before striking out Josh Donaldson to snap the Blue Jays’ three-game winning streak.
Toronto’s No. 1 starter David Price was saddled with the loss. He carried a 2-1 lead into the seventh but couldn’t come away with the victory after the Indians rallied for a pair of runs, which included the double by Raburn. Price was charged with three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out nine.
Click here to read more of this story.
About Marion Online Sports
