Blue Jays destroy Cleveland’s 14-game winning streak

Ezequiel Carrera and Josh Donaldson made a winning combination this afternoon as Donaldson’s big bat and Carrera’s speed combined for the tying and winning runs late in the game.

Edwin Encarnacion made up for his lack of playing time yesterday by jumping all over Cleveland starter Zach McAllister in the first inning.  Edwin drove in Carrera (who was hit by a pitch) and Donaldson (who walked) with a three-run home run.  Encarnacion also singled in the third going two for five with three RBI’s.

Troy Tulowitzki joined the home run party, driving in Russell Martin who had singled with a two-run homer in the fifth.  Michael Saunders went three for four with two singles, a double, a walk and two RBI’s.

Josh Donaldson tied the game back up in the seventh and brought in the winning run in the eighth.  He ended up going two for four with a solo home run, a single,  a walk and two RBI’s.

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Ezequiel Carrera’s speed was a game-changer.  In the first, after getting hit by a pitch he stole second.  In the fourth, Carrera legged out a  bunt base hit and in the eighth, with the game on the line, Carrera used that speed to put the score back in the Jay’s favour with a play at the plate off of a Donaldson single.

Marco Estrada ended his streak of pitching six innings or more when he exited the game after the fifth.  Estrada’s back appeared to be bothering him for the majority of the game; as he could be seen stretching his back and moving gingerly in between innings and pitches.  Estrada ended up striking out seven with no walks and three earned runs.

Joe Biagini entered in relief of Estrada in the sixth and struck out three (Jason Kipnis reached first on a wild pitch); however, he also loaded the bases and ended up bringing in a run when he hit Juan Uribe. That brought in the lefty Aaron Loup who closed out the sixth with a groundout.  Drew Hutchison gave up the lead in the seventh with two doubles, a single and two RBI’s.  He did not record a strikeout.  Jason Grilli had a spotless eighth inning of relief with two strikeouts.  Grilli picked up his first win as a Jay.

Former Jay Rajai Davis showed improved discipline at the plate.  He ended up going four for five and hit for the cycle with a Home Run, a triple and a double, and a single.  He topped off the afternoon with a stolen base and was the owner of two of Cleveland’s six RBI’s. Jose Ramirez, Mike Napoli, Carlos Santana and Juan Uribe all had solo RBI’s in the game for Cleveland.

Next up the Jays finish off the four game series  against the Indians  as Corey Kluber (8-7 with a 3.50 ERA) takes on J.A. Happ ( 10-3 with a 3.70 ERA) on Sunday at 1:07.