Cleveland Indians: Talbot, Tribe Double Up the Jays

5-31-11     at Toronto     W, 6-3     32-20

     Mired in what had been a dreadful road trip, the Indians desperately needed someone to halt the team's slide.

     On Tuesday night at the Rogers Centre, Mitch Talbot did exactly that.

     Talbot, who was roughed up by Boston last Wednesday, reversed his fortunes by limiting the Blue Jays to only 1 run in 6 2/3 innings.  The right-hander struck out 3, and several sterling defensive plays made behind him greatly aided his cause.  The victory Talbot earned was his 2nd of the season.

Talbot's solid outing was key as the Tribe topped Toronto

     Meanwhile, the Tribe's offense, which had scored only 15 runs in its previous 7 games, finally broke out of its slump. 

     Grady Sizemore and Carlos Santana, a pair of struggling batters, played the starring roles.

     Sizemore hit 2 RBI doubles, and Santana had 3 hits, including a RBI double, and a sacrifice fly.  All told, the 2 sluggers combined to produce 5 hits, 4 RBI, and 3 runs.

     After plating a single tally in the 2nd and 2 more in the 3rd, Cleveland broke the game wide open in the 5th.  With 2 outs and the bases empty, Travis Buck worked a seemingly harmless walk.  However, Sizemore and Santana proceeded to stroke back-to-back RBI 2-baggers, and Orlando Cabrera lined a run-scoring single into left field. 

     The 2-out rally sent Brandon Morrow to the showers.  Morrow allowed all 6 runs in the 5 frames he pitched, and he suffered the defeat.

     The Jays managed to cut the Indians' lead in half, but Vinnie Pestano, Tony Sipp, and Chris Perez eventually shut the door on the home squad's comeback bid.