Carlos Santana hit a solo homer in the 19th inning as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 in a marathon Friday to extend their winning streak to a franchise-record 14 games.
Santana led off the 19th by turning on a full-count pitch from infielder Darwin Barney for his 17th homer of the season. Barney (0-1) had relieved backup infielder Ryan Goins as both teams depleted their bullpens.
Cleveland (49-30) used nine pitchers in all — including Saturday’s scheduled starter Trevor Bauer — in a game that lasted six hours 13 minutes. Bauer (7-2) worked five innings of relief for the win as the Indians spoiled the Canada Day party at Rogers Centre.
The Blue Jays fell to 43-39 with their eighth loss in 12 games. Justin Smoak provided Toronto’s lone run with a solo homer in the sixth inning.
<> of the Atlanta Braves Cleveland Indians during the game against the Atlanta Braves Cleveland Indians at Turner Field on August 27, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Cleveland’s streak is the longest in one season since the Atlanta Braves won 14 in a row in 2013.
The Indians nearly took the lead in the 10th inning. Cleveland put two runners on but Kevin Pillar made a brilliant diving catch in centre field to end the threat.
The Blue Jays threatened in the 11th but Zach McAllister got Smoak to pop up with runners on the corners to end the frame.
Toronto slugger Josh Donaldson grounded out with the bases loaded to end the 14th inning. Josh Thole nearly ended the game in the 15th but his rainbow flyout landed in Lonnie Chisenhall’s glove on the warning track.
Both teams had runners in scoring position in the 16th but couldn’t push a run across.
There were some early fireworks in the Canada Day matinee as Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion and manager John Gibbons were ejected in the first inning.
Encarnacion objected to umpire Vic Carapazza’s called third strike on what appeared to an outside pitch. Gibbons quickly came out of the dugout and was also tossed.
Russell Martin was later tossed in the 13th inning after arguing with Carapazza.
Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman escaped damage after putting runners on in the first two innings but Cleveland got to him in the third. Carlos Santana led off with a double and scored on a Jason Kipnis single.
The Blue Jays put runners on the corners in the fourth inning after singles by Devon Travis and Martin. Tulowitzki walked to load the bases for Smoak, who grounded out to end the inning.
Toronto threatened again in the fifth as Pillar and Barney reached on singles. Carrera laid down a sacrifice bunt to move them into scoring position.
Indians starter Josh Tomlin intentionally walked Donaldson to get to Travis, who struck out. The right-hander got Michael Saunders to line out to keep his shutout intact.
In the sixth, Smoak took a first-pitch fastball over the wall in left-centre field for his eighth homer of the year.
Stroman, meanwhile, retired 12 straight batters until giving up a leadoff single to Chisenhall in the seventh. Rajai Davis reached on an error by Smoak at first base and Stroman walked Carlos Santana to load the bases.
Acting manager DeMarlo Hale turned to southpaw reliever Brett Cecil, who got Kipnis to fly out. Stroman allowed five hits, one earned run, one walk and had six strikeouts.
Tomlin fanned eight over six innings. He allowed seven hits, one earned run and walked a pair.
After Jason Grilli worked a clean eighth, Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna came on for the ninth and gave up a leadoff single to Chisenhall before retiring the next three batters.
Joe Biagini pitched the 10th and Chavez threw three innings.
