TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays played like the team that struggled mightily over the first month of the season on Tuesday night.
Making matters worse was the possibility that another significant player might be lost to injury.
Kendrys Morales left a 6-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians due to hamstring tightness. He was limping around the locker-room after the game with his left leg heavily taped.
"I'm not so concerned so far," Morales said via a translator. "We're going to do an MRI (exam) tomorrow and then we'll see how it's going to go from there. They're going to tell me if it's severe or not."
Losing the veteran cleanup hitter would be a blow to an offence that is already quite thin. Morales, who appeared to suffer the injury while running out a grounder, leads the team with six home runs and 20 RBIs this season.
The Blue Jays (12-21) are already without regulars Josh Donaldson (calf), Troy Tulowitzki (hamstring) and Russell Martin (shoulder). Starting pitchers Aaron Sanchez (finger) and J.A. Happ (elbow) are also on the disabled list.
Yan Gomes had two of Cleveland's seven hits — including a three-run homer in the eighth inning — and Carlos Carrasco threw seven shutout innings. The Indians starter gave up three hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out seven.
"I thought Carrasco was tremendous," said Indians manager Terry Francona. "He's obviously pitching with a lot of confidence and he should. He is in a good place. He's been consistent in his routines."
Andrew Miller and Nick Goody completed the four-hit shutout. The teams will play the rubber match of the three-game series Wednesday night at Rogers Centre.
Cleveland (18-14) scored twice in the second inning off Blue Jays starter Mike Bolsinger, who made his regular-season debut after a callup from triple-A Buffalo earlier in the day.
Bolsinger (0-1) turned in a respectable effort over 5 2/3 innings but was no match for Carrasco (4-2), who didn't allow a Toronto runner to reach second base until his final frame.
Bolsinger walked the first two batters in the second inning and both came around to score. Edwin Encarnacion came home on a Lonnie Chisenhall double and Jose Ramirez scored when Yandy Diaz hit into a fielder's choice.
Carrasco gave up a single to Ezequiel Carrera in the first inning, a single to Darwin Barney in the third and a slump-busting single to Jose Bautista — who ended an 0-for-21 skid — in the seventh.
Reliever Aaron Loup hit Brandon Guyer with a pitch in the eighth before giving up a single to Abraham Almonte. Gomes then belted his second homer of the season.
Bolsinger struck out four and allowed three hits, two earned runs and four walks. Announced attendance was 32,688 and the game took two hours 47 minutes to play.
Notes: For the second straight night, Encarnacion received a standing ovation before his first at-bat. ... Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Sanchez threw 60 pitches Tuesday as he continues to recover from a finger injury. He could return to the lineup for a Sunday start. ... Tulowitzki, meanwhile, might play in rehab games this weekend, Gibbons said. ... Bolsinger was 1-1 with a 1.46 earned-run average over four appearances at triple-A Buffalo. ... The Blue Jays designated right-hander Neil Ramirez for assignment before the game. ... Toronto left-hander Francisco Liriano (2-2, 4.44) is scheduled to start on Wednesday against right-hander Danny Salazar (2-3, 4.28).
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