IAN HARRISON
Associated Press
TORONTO (AP) — Justin Masterson has known mostly success against the Blue Jays — but he didn’t have much after the third inning Tuesday night.
R.A. Dickey won for the third time in four starts, Juan Francisco homered and Toronto beat Masterson and the Cleveland Indians 5-4.
Masterson (2-2) matched a season high by allowing five runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings.
The right-hander came in 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 15 games against Toronto, and had allowed just one earned run in his previous 13 innings at Rogers Centre.
But after starting his night with three perfect frames, Masterson allowed five runs and six hits in the next 2 1-3 innings.
Masterson said his own pitch selection was partly to blame for Toronto’s outburst.
“I just didn’t mix it up as well,” Masterson said. “That was the biggest thing. They made a good adjustment to stay with the ball and I just didn’t combat the adjustment by mixing it up, maybe throwing a few more sliders.”
Jose Reyes spoiled Masterson’s perfect start with a leadoff triple in the fourth. Melky Cabrera followed with a sacrifice fly to the warning track in center.
Francisco put the Blue Jays in front with a one-out homer in the fifth, a drive into the second deck. The homer was the first allowed by Masterson in 29 1-3 innings.
Toronto chased Masterson and added three more runs in the sixth. Adam Lind hit a two-run double and scored on Francisco’s double.
“He got a couple of balls up that they stayed on pretty well,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.
Cabrera made a one-hop throw from left field to get Carlos Santana at home plate to end the eighth inning, preserving a one-run Toronto lead.
“That was just heroic, is what that was,” a grateful Dickey said. “It saved the game.”
Santana said he had to alter his slide because Yan Gomes’ bat was still lying just outside the batter’s box.
“Melky made a great throw and the bat was in the middle,” Santana said. “I tried to go inside.”
Dickey (4-3) allowed two earned runs and four hits in six-plus innings. He walked two and struck out six.
Dickey set down the first eight batters before the Indians opened the scoring in the third. Mike Aviles singled, Michael Bourn walked and Nick Swisher hit an RBI single that dropped just in front of a charging Jose Bautista in right.
Gibbons came out to argue the call by first base umpire Jerry Meals that Bautista had trapped the ball, but didn’t challenge it.
Casey Janssen, activated off the disabled list Sunday, finished for his first save.
“It’s definitely good to have him back,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.
Josh Outman replaced Masterson with runners at first and second, but got out of it by retiring Josh Thole on a grounder and striking out Kevin Pillar.
Cleveland closed to within one with a three-run seventh. Asdrubal Cabrera singled, David Murphy reached on a fielding error by Lawrie at second base and Gomes walked to load the bases before Dickey hit Lonnie Chisenhall with the first pitch.
Aaron Loup relieved and got Aviles to fly out, but Bourn hit an RBI single and Swisher added a sacrifice fly. Michael Brantley lined out to end the inning.
“We just couldn’t get one big hit,” Francona said.
Santana singled off Brett Cecil to begin the eighth and advanced on a passed ball. Asdrubal Cabrera and Murphy struck out before Gomes lined a single to left, setting the stage for Cabrera’s inning-ending assist.
NOTES: Cleveland has lost nine of 11 on the road. … Francona has been added to John Farrell’s staff for the All-Star game. Minnesota’s Ron Gardenhire will also assist Farrell. … Toronto OF Colby Rasmus, who left Monday’s game after six innings with a tight right hamstring, did not start. Gibbons said he hopes Rasmus will be ready to return after two days off. … The Blue Jays recalled Pillar from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned INF Jonathan Diaz to Triple-A. … Indians RHP Corey Kluber (3-3) faces Blue Jays RHP Dustin McGowan (2-1) on Wednesday.
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