Music: {allcanada} Jays look to win rubber match with Indians

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

{allcanada} Jays look to win rubber match with Indians

Now that their four-game winning streak has ended, the Toronto Blue Jays hope Kyle Drabek (3-3, 4.16) can give them a chance for a series win when he makes his first appearance against the Cleveland Indians.

Despite walking 14 batters over his last three starts, Drabek is 1-1 with a 2.75 ERA during that span. He allowed two runs, three hits and five walks in 6 2-3 innings, but did not factor in the decision of a 4-2 win over the White Sox on Friday.

"He's got the ability to win, and he's got the tenacity to pitch through tight spots, avoiding a crooked number," manager John Farrell told the Blue Jays' official website. "To me, it's a trademark of a winner. "That's something you can't teach."

Scheduled Indians starter Josh Tomlin (6-2, 2.74 ERA) had one bad inning when he served up a pair of two-run homers in the second for the only runs he gave up over six innings of a 5-0 loss at Tampa Bay on Friday.

It was the first time in 10 starts Tomlin allowed more than three runs. The 10 home runs he has given up this season equal his total in 12 starts last year.

"When you're around the zone like that, and guys know, they can take their swings on you," Tomlin told the Indians' official website. "I have to do a better job of getting pitches down in the zone."

The right-hander allowed only a home run to Jose Molina and three other hits in 5 1-3 innings but did not factor in the decision of a 2-1 win at Toronto on July 31.

Toronto slugger Jose Bautista is 0 for 2 with a walk against Tomlin, but batting .455 his last six games versus Cleveland after going 3 for 5 on Tuesday. He's hit .480 (12 for 25) with six RBIs his last six contests overall.

Cleveland has won seven of nine against Toronto.

A healthy and productive Grady Sizemore could be what the Cleveland Indians need to get back on track.

Coming off a solid offensive performance, Sizemore hopes to help the Indians conclude a six-game road trip at .500 Wednesday night against the Toronto Blue Jays.

After going 0 for 12 with seven strikeouts in his first three games since coming off the disabled list last week, Sizemore was 2 for 4 with two RBIs in Tuesday's 6-3 win at Toronto (28-27).

The victory was the second in seven games for the Indians (32-20), who still have the best record in the AL.

"When you're struggling for four or five games, you want to stop it there," Sizemore said. "You don't want it to go for 10 or 15."

The three-time All-Star missed the first 14 games of the season while recovering from left knee surgery, then almost three weeks with a right knee injury. Sizemore is batting .255 with six homers and 13 RBIs in 22 games, but .318 his last five versus Toronto.

Michael Brantley and Carlos Santana each had three hits for the Indians, who scored half as many runs Tuesday as they did in their previous six contests.

"Hopefully we're getting on track and getting ready to go," winning pitcher Mitch Talbot said.