Field Level Media
May 3, 2018
Yangervis Solarte completed his first career five-hit game with his first career grand slam in the 11th inning Thursday, giving the visiting Toronto Blue Jays a 13-11 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the first game of a doubleheader.
Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson each hit two-run homers for the Blue Jays, who had a season-best 17 hits. Solarte drove in a career-high six runs.
Francisco Lindor hit a three-run homer and a solo blast for the Indians.
The opener of the doubleheader, played to make up for postponed games April 14-15, was delayed by rain for nearly two hours.
In the top of the 11th, Cleveland's Tyler Olson (0-1) allowed a two-out walk to pinch hitter Luke Maile, a double to Donaldson and a walk to Teoscar Hernandez to load the bases ahead of Solarte's eighth homer of the season.
Tim Mayza (1-0) pitched the 10th to pick up the win.
Toronto's Roberto Osuna allowed a two-run single to Edwin Encarnacion in the bottom of the 11th in a non-save situation.
Blue Jays starter Jaime Garcia failed to hold a 5-0 lead, allowing six runs, seven hits and one walk while striking out four in 3 1/3 innings.
Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco allowed six runs, nine hits and three walks and struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings.
The Blue Jays led 2-0 in the second on a single by Solarte and Martin's fourth homer of the season.
The Blue Jays added three runs in the fourth. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled, Curtis Granderson walked and Donaldson, activated for the game after being on the disabled list with a sore shoulder, hit an RBI double. Solarte delivered a two-run single.
The Indians scored seven in their half of the fourth. Michael Brantley and Encarnacion singled, Brandon Guyer hit an RBI double and Bradley Zimmer hit a two-run single. Zimmer stole second and took third when Erik Gonzalez reached first after striking out on a wild pitch. Lindor then homered.
Garcia was replaced by Danny Barnes, who allowed two walks and an RBI single by Encarnacion.
The Blue Jays tied the game in the sixth. Granderson singled and Carrasco was replaced by Nick Goody, who gave up Donaldson's fourth homer of the season.
Toronto took an 8-7 lead in the seventh. Kevin Pillar singled to extend his hit streak to eight games, and Goody left the game due to right elbow inflammation. Zach McAllister walked Aledmys Diaz and allowed an RBI single to Gurriel.
Toronto added a run in the eighth on a double by Hernandez, a walk by Solarte and Pillar's RBI double.
Cleveland tied the game at 9 against Ryan Tepera in the bottom of the eighth. Lindor hit his seventh homer of the season. Ramirez walked and scored on Brantley's grounder to first past Solarte, who was charged with a two-base error. Solarte had moved from second base to first when first baseman Steve Pearce was hurt while batting in the fifth.
Between games, Pearce was placed on the disabled list due to an oblique strain. The Blue Jays promoted Game 2 starter Joe Biagini and Luis Santos, two right-handers, from Triple-A Buffalo, and they optioned right-hander Danny Barnes to their top minor league affiliate. Barnes got one out in the opener Thursday while allowing a run on two hits and two walks.
After the opener, the Indians selected the contract of right-hander Evan Marshall from Triple-A Columbus and placed Goody on the 10-day DL. To clear a spot for Marshall on the 40-man roster, right-hander Danny Salazar (right shoulder inflammation) was transferred to the 60-day DL.
Prior to the first game, the Jays placed first baseman Justin Smoak on the paternity list, optioned infielder Gift Ngoepe to Buffalo, recalled outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. and Mayza from Buffalo and activated Donaldson.
--Field Level Media