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Choo drives in go-ahead run as Indians beat Jays

Jul 31, 2010 - 9:23 PM TORONTO(AP) -- After another day of dealing, the Cleveland Indians pulled out a win, too.

Shin-Soo Choo doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the Indians beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 on Saturday to snap a three-game losing streak.

Indians right-hander Jake Westbrook was scratched before the game and traded to St. Louis as part of a three-team deal. Cleveland also activated right-hander Kerry Wood from the disabled list and dealt him to the New York Yankees just before the 4 p.m. EDT non-waiver trade deadline.

"It feels like we just got stripped of everybody," outfielder Shelley Duncan said. "It was like, 'Hold your breath until 4:00 p.m. and maybe we won't lose anybody' and we lost everybody. It's kind of weird. Being 30, I just became ancient on this team."

Manager Manny Acta said he was relieved to see the trade deadline come and go.

"I'm glad it's over," Acta said. "That way we can just move on."

Duncan said the young talent could make for an interesting final two months for Cleveland.

"Once we get settled in after today and understand that this is our team, it might be pretty fun," he said. "It's really a nothing-to-lose attitude. We almost have the Columbus Clippers up here."

One day after trading outfielder Austin Kearns to the Yankees, it was another busy day for Cleveland, which sent cash to the Padres and St. Louis Cardinals as part of a three-team deal involving Westbrook. The Indians got right-hander Corey Kluber from San Diego in return, and assigned the Texas League's strikeout leader to Double-A Akron.

The Indians called up outfielder Jordan Brown from Triple-A Columbus and will promote righty Jeanmar Gomez from Columbus to start Sunday's series finale.

With Westbrook on the block, the Indians warned Tomlin on Friday night that he might be pushed up a day to start on three days' rest against the Blue Jays.

"I came in today ready to go just in case but it never was a sure deal," Tomlin said. "Towards the last inning, I could tell my arm was kind of dragging a little bit."

Tomlin, who beat the Yankees in his major league debut on Tuesday, followed that performance by allowing only one run in 5 1-3 innings.

"He doesn't have overpowering stuff, but there's a place for a guy like him in this game because he throws strikes, mixes his pitches very well and is very poised," Acta said.

Jensen Lewis (3-2) worked one inning of relief for the win, Joe Smith pitched 1 2-3 shutout innings and Chris Perez survived a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to earn his 11th save.

"He stepped up huge in that inning and got the save," Acta said.

The loss snapped the Blue Jays' four-game winning streak.

Vernon Wells led off the ninth with a single and went to second when Adam Lind was hit on the knee on the first pitch he saw from Perez, with Dewayne Wise coming on to pinch run. Both runners moved up on Aaron Hill's sacrifice before Lyle Overbay was walked intentionally to load the bases for Edwin Encarnacion, who struck out on three pitches.

Travis Snider, called up from the minors Friday and batting for the first time since May 14, pinch hit for catcher Jose Molina but struck out swinging to end it.

The Indians opened the scoring in the fourth. Singles by Choo and Carlos Santana and a walk to Duncan loaded the bases for Jason Donald, who drove in the opening run with a walk.

The Blue Jays tied the game in the fifth when catcher Jose Molina hit a first-pitch, solo homer to left-center. It was his fourth of the season and gave Toronto at least one home run in 12 straight games - 28 total over that span.

Toronto leads the majors with 158 homers, and their 43 in July are the most in baseball.

Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista drew a leadoff walk in the sixth but went too far around second on Wells' single to left and was thrown out trying to get back to the base. Lewis came on to face Lind, who lined into a double play, with Wells caught off first.

Cleveland took the lead in the seventh against reliever Brian Tallet (1-4). Asdrubal Cabrera drew a one-out walk and scored from first when Choo's double to left bounced into foul territory and away from Toronto's Fred Lewis. Shortstop Yunel Escobar hesitated before sending the relay home, allowing Cabrera to slide in ahead of the throw.

"Excellent baserunning," Acta said. "Cabrera is one of those guys who has that baseball savvy that you just can't teach. Very good instincts."

Notes: Blue Jays LHP Brett Cecil allowed one run and five hits in six innings. He walked five and struck out five. ... The Blue Jays signed INF Shane Opitz, their 11th-round pick in the June draft. ... Former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Curtis Joseph attended the game.