Cleveland Indians - Jacobs Field Magic
Matthew Florjancic, WKYC6:36 PM. EST July 01, 2016
Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor hits a single during the first inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. (Photo: Nick Turchiaro, Custom)
It took 19 innings, but the Cleveland Indians extended their winning streak to a franchise-record 14 games with a 2-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre tonight.
After multiple chances to break open Friday afternoons game against the Toronto Blue Jays, including a bases loaded situation against infielder Ryan Goins, the Indians got a solo home run from designated hitter Carlos Santana off of second baseman Darwin Barney in the top of the 19th. Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer ended the game by setting down the
Early on in the game, the Indians missed opportunities to take a lead, as they left three runners on base over the first two innings against the Blue Jays, but they cashed in on a chance in the top of the third.
With Santana on second base after smashing a lead-off double to dead center field, second baseman Jason Kipnis followed with an RBI single that gave the Indians a 1-0 advantage over the Blue Jays.
Although the Indians took the lead in the top of the third inning, they went down in order in each of their next three at-bats.
Despite surrendering the lead, the Indians had an opportunity to go back in front of the Blue Jays when they left the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning.
After right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall led off with a single to left-center field, the Blue Jays retired two straight Indians. However, left fielder Rajai Davis reached on an error and Santana followed with a walk to load the bases. But Kipnis flew out to deep center field for the final out of the inning.
The Indians again had a chance to take the lead in the top of the 10th inning when Kipnis reached base after getting hit by a pitch from Toronto reliever Joe Biagini. After Lindor struck out swinging, designated hitter Mike Napoli smacked a single to center field. However, shortstop Jose Ramirez lined out to center for the final out of the inning.
In the top of the 15th, the Indians had runners at first and third with one out, but Napoli grounded into a five-four-three double play that ended the threat.
The Indians led off the top of the 16th inning with back-to-back singles from Ramirez and Chisenhall, but a pop out to shortstop, strikeout and lineout to third base ended Clevelands chances at retaking the lead over the Blue Jays.
While the offense struggled to generate runs, starting pitcher Josh Tomlin did his best to keep the Blue Jays off the board, despite having to work out of bases-loaded jams in back-to-back innings.
Through the first three innings, Tomlin allowed two hits, but stayed out of trouble by striking out five of Torontos first seven batters, including the first three of the game, the last of which led to a pair of ejections for the Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays shook off the emotions and threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning when designated hitter Devon Travis looped a single over the head of Kipnis into right field. Then, after left fielder Michael Saunders struck out looking, catcher Russell Martin smacked a single to right field that moved Travis over to third base.
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki walked to load the bases, but Tomlin induced an inning-ending groundout to second base from first baseman Justin Smoak.
In the Blue Jays next at-bat, center fielder Kevin Pillar and second baseman Darwin Barney got back-to-back singles to right and center field, respectively. Then, right fielder Ezequiel Carrera dropped down a sacrifice bunt that moved both Pillar and Barney to second and third with just one out.
After intentionally walking third baseman Josh Donaldson to again load the bases, Tomlin struck out Travis and got Saunders to line out to center field to end the threat for the second straight inning.
Although Tomlin kept the Blue Jays at bay for the first five innings, they broke through in the bottom of the sixth. With no on and two out, Smoak took the first offering from the Indians starter over the wall in left-center field to knot the game at 1-1.
Source: http://www.wkyc.com/sports/mlb/indians/cleveland-indians-toronto-blue-jays/261768045
