Game #140 Cleveland Indians (80-60) @ Toronto Blue Jays (63-77) - game recap

Francisco Lindor was 4-5 with 4RBI and 3 runs scored as the Indians defeated the Blue Jays 9-4

This series lost a bit of luster on Monday when Josh Donaldson was placed on the 10 day DL in order to allow him to get some rehab games in. Like it or not, the Indians made the right move. Instead, Blue Jays fans will see ex-Blue Jays Edwin Encarnacion and Melky Cabrera. Catcher Reese McGuire made his big league debut for the Blue Jays tonight. It appears Luke Maile may be the odd man out at catcher next year with Danny Jansen ready for prime time and McGuire challenging for a roster spot. Russell Martin will probably be kept on in a mentoring role. Rowdy Tellez got the start at first base tonight. For the remainder of the month, expect to see the younger players getting most of the playing time with veterans such as Justin Smoak, and Russell Martin slotted in the odd game. September is a time for the Blue Jays to evaluate what they have in their prospects and the prospects to get a taste of MLB game action. Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights

• The Indians took the lead in the top of the 1st as Francisco Lindor homered to straightaway center
• The Indians added a run in the top of the 3rd as Lindor homered to right
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 4th as Rowdy Tellez doubled scoring Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
• A batter later, Teoscar Hernandez doubled home Tellez and Kendrys Morales
• Two batters later, Aledmys Dias reached on a fielding error that scored Hernandez
• The Indians added a run in the top of the 5th as Brandon Guyer doubled scoring Yan Gomes
• A batter later, Lindor singled home Guyer
• Sam Gaviglio pitching line: 4.1IP 6H 5R (all earned) 0BB 4K 72 pitches (44 for strikes)
• The Indians added a run in the top of the 6th as Greg Allen doubled scoring Edwin Encarnacion
• Shane Bieber pitching line: 6.1IP 7H 4R (3 earned) 1BB 6K 89 pitches (62 for strikes)
• The Indians added three more runs in the top of the 9th as Jason Kipnis hammered a 3 run HR to right also scoring Guyer and Lindor
• Final score: Indians 9 Blue Jays 4

My Take

• Sam Gaviglio had a rocky game giving up 5 runs on 6 hits over 4.1 innings. Gaviglio had a particularly difficult time getting the pesky Francisco Lindor out (he homered off Sammy G twice today). To put the icing on the cake, Lindor drove in the inherited runner Gaviglio left on base when he was pulled in the 5th. Gaviglio had a perfect inning in the 2nd. It will be interesting to see if the team elects to bring Gaviglio back with Sanchez and Stroman presumably going to be healthy and prospects Sean Reid-Foley and Ryan Borucki strong contenders for the rotation.
• Reese McGuire had a nice debut for the Blue Jays. He threw out Jose Ramirez trying to steal 2nd base in the 4th inning and he got his first major league hit, a double, in the 9th.
• Rowdy Tellez had a good day at the plate with 3  hits in 4AB, a RBI and a run scored. He did mess up in the 6th as he was unable to corrall a bad throw by reliever David Paulino
• David Paulino made his debut for the Blue Jays, retiring the next three batters, two on strikeouts, after the aforementioned throwing error
• Mark Leiter Jr.'s second career game did not go as well as his first as he gave up a three run blast to Jason Kipnis
• Blue Jays lefty Jose Fernandez threw 2/3 of an inning today, giving up an RBI single to the first batter he faced and retiring the next 2.
• Justin Shafer threw an inning allowing an unearned run on 2 hits and a walk.
• I really like the way Billy McKinney has played and I think the Blue Jays got a real steal in the Happ deal. I look forward to seeing him now and in future years.
• Richard Urena struck out in a pinch hitting appearance in the 9th.
• John Gibbons is going to have a real juggling act getting everyone playing time (September call-ups and regulars) as there are only 8 positions and only one person can pitch at a time.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series as veteran Marco Estrada takes the mound against Indians righty Carlos Carrasco