Indians-Blue Jays preview
TORONTO -- The Cleveland Indians had to work overtime to set a club record with a 14-game winning streak. They needed 19 innings to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 on Friday afternoon with Carlos Santana hitting a leadoff homer in the 19th against infielder Darwin Barney, who played the first 18 innings at second base before being pressed into service on the mound. "That's a weird game," Indians manager Terry Francona said. 'Shoot, they're matching up with infielders." The matchup is of a different nature Saturday for the third contest of the four-game series. The Indians were trying to determine who might start for them as Trevor Bauer, the scheduled starter for Saturday, pitched five innings of relief Friday to earn the win. With an afternoon game Saturday, it might be difficult from a time perspective to call up a pitcher so the possibility was that it could be a game that Francona tries to piece together from the bullpen. "We're working through that right now," Francona said. "We've got some things we've got to talk through." Meanwhile, the Blue Jays will be going with their best starter this season, Marco Estrada. The right-hander has pitched six innings and allowed five or fewer hits in 12 straight starts, a major league record. "He's an ace," Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis told the Toronto Star. "I think that's the biggest thing that gets misconstrued because he doesn't throw 95 and he doesn't have a bunch of flash to his pitches. ...There's zero flash to his game." Travis said it is fun to play when Estrada pitches. "I told him the other day, 'When I watch you pitch, that's how I wish myself and everybody could play baseball,' " Travis said. "He's out there having fun, he smiles. He gives up a home run, he comes in the dugout and he's the exact same guy. After the game, same guy, whether he just threw seven (shutout) or gave up five runs -- which I can't remember the last time that happened." Estrada has faced the Indians once, allowing two runs in seven innings while earning a no-decision last season. The Indians, meanwhile, not only are on a 14-game winning streak but are 8-0 on their road trip. They are 19 games over. 500 (49-30) for the first time since the end of the 2013 season when they were 22 games above. 500. The Indians are getting it done with teamwork, regardless of who is starting and the win Friday was an example. "When TB (Bauer) came in, the day before he's supposed to start, the innings he logged where huge innings," said Josh Tomlin, who started and allowed one run in six innings "What he did today was pretty spectacular. "We're playing as a team. We're doing whatever it takes to win a game today and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow." But even in the bottom of the 19th, there was a moment of uncertainty that Santana's home run might not be enough. In the bottom of the 19th, Josh Donaldson hit a deep fly to right that became the second out when at first it appeared that the game might be tied again. "It looked like that ball was a home run off the bat," Francona said. "I thought he hit it out for sure," Bauer said. "He hit it and I was like 'You've got to be kidding me.'" But it worked out again in Cleveland' favor. It usually does these days. |