Jays Homer 5 Times off Indians Pitching for 10-8 Win

By: Stephen Parsons

Solid pitching and timely hitting is what got the Indians the first 2 wins over Toronto.  Tonight, you could not call pitching anything close to solid for either side.

The Indians yielded their first loss of the season in Toronto tonight 10-8.  It started off well for the Tribe, getting a 1-0 lead after a RBI double from Nick Swisher. It didn't last long, a 2-run home run by Jose Bautista put the Blue Birds up 2-1.  JP Arencibia hit a solo home run in the 2nd putting the Jays up 3-1.

The Tribe would respond in the top of the 4th with back-to-back solo home runs from Carlos Santana and Mark Reynolds, tying the game at 3.  Brett Myers would be unable to hold the Jays, as they would put a 3 spot up in the bottom of the 5th.  

In the top of the top of the 6th Santana drove in Swisher with a double, and Chisenhall drove in Brantley and Santana with a 2-run RBI of his own, tying the game at 6 each.  Myers would once again allow a home run, Arencibia's 2nd of the night, and Toronto's 4th of the night.  

This would mark the end of Brett Myers' Indians debut.  Cody Allen, who started last season at Class-A Kinston, came in to help stop the bleeding, he would allow a solo home run to Colby Rasmus.  This was Rasmus' first hit of the season and it gave the Jays a 7-6 lead.  Allen would throw 31 pitches in this inning allowing 2 walks and a fielding error leading to a run scoring and extending the inning.  

After retaking the lead the Blue Jays would not look back, adding on an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th making it 10-8.  Casey Janssen would close the door in the top of the 9th striking out Drew Stubbs to earn the Blue Jays first win of the 2013 campaign. 

My Thoughts:

Indians hitters got to a pitcher that they know well in Mark Buehrle, scoring 6 runs on him and getting him out of the game before the 6th inning was over.  The pitching is going to be the concern, Francona wants his starting pitching to at least 6 innings each game.  When that doesn't happen the bullpen is forced to come in earlier than expected, and normally behind on the scoreboard which doesn't make things easier.  

The Indians are paying Brett Myers 7 million dollars this season, so expect him to be out there as long as he is physically able to pitch, he is an innings eater and will be out there deep in the game more often than not, despite only throwing 68 pitches tonight.

Coming Up Next:

The Indians travel to Tampa Bay who is coming off dropping 2 of 3 to Baltimore despite getting a solid outing from ace David Price going 6 innings allowing only 2 runs.  The Indians will see David Price on Sunday's series finale.  

Scott Kazmir has been placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a rib cage strain.  Trevor Bauer will make the start on Saturday. 

Tomorrow night Zach McCallister will face off against Matt Moore at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg Florida tomorrow at 7:10 ET