Blue Jays 3, Indians 0: Carlos Villanueva combined with two relievers on a five-hit shutout as host Toronto took the rubber game of the three-game series.
Villanueva (4-0) continued to impress in just his third start of the season, scattering three hits over six innings in his second consecutive scoreless outing. The 28-year-old walked five but struck out a career-high eight batters.
Threes were wild for Toronto in the third as they scored three runs on three hits and three walks. J.P. Arencibia and Colby Rasmus each delivered an RBI single while Adam Lind drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the rally.
That was the only bump in the road for Derek Lowe (8-7), who limited the Blue Jays to one walk over his five other innings of work. The 39-year-old, who struck out five, has lost five straight road decisions.
Jason Frasor tossed a scoreless seventh and Darren Oliver allowed one hit over the final two frames for his first save of the year.
Slugger Jose Bautista recorded two of the five hits by Toronto, which has won three of four.
Michael Brantley notched two of Cleveland's five hits to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Brantley, who has registered four consecutive multi-hit performances, went 8-for-11 in the series.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Toronto OF Rajai Davis, who is hitless in his last 23 at-bats, was kept out of the starting lineup but entered the game in the seventh inning as a pinch runner. ... Blue Jays RHP Sergio Santos will miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury that will require surgery. The 29-year-old, who last pitched on April 20, was 0-1 with two saves and a 9.00 ERA in six relief appearances this season. ... Cleveland LHP Rafael Perez needed just eight pitches to get through a scoreless inning Saturday in his first rehab appearance with Double-A Akron. He has been sidelined since April 26 with a strained lat muscle.
Cleveland | Toronto | |
Derek Lowe | Player | Carlos Villanueva |
Loss | W/L | Win |
6.0 | IP | 6.0 |
5 | Strikeouts | 8 |
3 | Hits | 3 |
4.50 | ERA | 0.00 |
Cleveland | Toronto | |
Michael Brantley | Player | Jose Bautista |
2 | Hits | 2 |
0 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
4 | TB | 3 |
.667 | Avg | .500 |