CLEVELAND (AP) 鈥� Carlos Carrasco pitched six strong innings and Austin Hedges hit a two-run single when Toronto's pitchers couldn't find the strike zone, lifting the Cleveland Guardians to a 7-1 win over the Blue Jays on Friday night.
The Guardians drew five walks while scoring seven runs in the second inning as Jays rookie starter Yariel Rodr铆guez (0-2) and reliever Bowden Francis needed 70 pitches to get three outs.
It was the most pitches thrown by the Blue Jays in an inning since June 21, 1995 鈥� 30 years to the day. Also, it was the most pitches seen in an inning by a Cleveland team since pitch-by-pitch tracking started in 1988.
The Guardians were rewarded for their patience.
鈥淚t's what we expect,鈥� Hedges said. 鈥淕ood at-bat after good at-bat after good at-bat. It doesn鈥檛 matter if it鈥檚 a double, single, walk, moving a guy over. The boys just stay locked into an approach.鈥�
Carrasco (3-6) won for first time in six starts and avenged a loss in Toronto last week. The 37-year-old right-hander allowed one run and four hits, struck out a season-high seven 鈥� five straight in one stretch 鈥� and didn't walk a batter.
The performance probably won't affect the Guardians' desire to add starting pitching before the trading line, but Carrasco at least bought himself a few more outings.
鈥淭hat was as good as we鈥檝e seen Cookie all year,鈥� manager Stephen Vogt said.
Cleveland's Steven Kwan, who came in batting .396 while just shy of eligibility to lead the majors, went 0 for 4 and is 鈥渄own鈥� to .387. He had his hitting streak stopped at 14 games and an on-base streak end at 25.
Kwan did connect on what should have been a single in the second, but Hedges got forced at second on a throw from centre.
鈥淥f course Kwan would lose his hitting streak on a hit,鈥� Vogt said. 鈥淚t's just funny to me that that鈥檚 how it ended. We鈥檙e not worried. He鈥檚 not worried. He's going to start another one tomorrow.鈥�
Kwan destroyed Blue Jays pitching last week in Toronto, batting .615 (8 of 13) during a three-game series.
Josh Naylor also had two RBIs as the Guardians moved 21 games over .500 for the second time.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered the Blue Jays, who lost their fourth straight.
Toronto rookie slugger Orelvis Martinez got his first hit in his major league debut. The team鈥檚 No. 2 prospect, Martinez singled in the sixth, delighting a large contingent of family members in attendance from the Dominican Republic.
Afterward, Martinez posed for photos outside Toronto's clubhouse with his parents, sister and Guardians All-Star third baseman Jos茅 Ram铆rez, who stopped to congratulate him.
鈥淎n unbelievable feeling," Martinez said through an interpreter. "It was one of the goals I had since I was a kid, to get a base hit in the big leagues and I accomplished it. Hopefully the first of many more.鈥�
Rodr铆guez's first appearance since April 29 was brief. He had been on the injury list for nearly two months with thoracic spine inflammation before being reinstated to face the Guardians.
In the second, the AL Central leaders took advantage of an outfield misplay, the five walks and an error to open a 7-0 lead.
Naylor led off with a catchable shot to the gap in left centre that dropped between two Toronto outfielders for a double.
Rodr铆guez then made it easy for Cleveland, throwing nine straight balls and walking three straight to force in a run. He got one out before Hedges ripped a two-run single down the third-base line, ending Rodr铆guez's outing after just 1 1 /3 innings.
鈥淜ind of uncharacteristic of him,鈥� Jays manager John Schneider said. "He鈥檚 not going to back down. Not that he did. He just kind of lost the zone there a little bit.鈥�
TRAINER'S ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette (calf strain) is on track to return from the injury list when his 10-day stint ends on June 25. He fielded ground balls, took batting practice and ran the bases before the game.
Guardians: RHP Gavin Williams (elbow) pitched five innings for Double-A Akron in a minor league rehab appearance. He allowed one run and struck out four while throwing 66 pitches against Binghamton.
UP NEXT
In an encore of a matchup last week, Blue Jays RHP Jos茅 Berr铆os (6-5, 3.13 ERA) faces Guardians RHP Ben Lively (6-3, 3.02). Toronto snapped Lively's five-game winning streak with a 7-6 win on June 16.
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AP MLB:
Tom Withers, The Associated Press
