Guardians 4 - 1 Blue Jays
Final
  for this game

Indians spoil Dickey's Toronto debut

Apr 3, 2013 - 6:31 AM

Video

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Asdrubal Cabrera hit a two-run homer and Justin Masterson tuned in six solid innings, as the Cleveland Indians topped Toronto, 4-1, in the season opener for both clubs from Rogers Centre.

Lonnie Chisenhall and Drew Stubbs drove in a run each for the Indians, who are looking to improve upon a 68-94 record and fourth-place finish in the AL Central.

Masterson (1-0) gave up just three hits, one run and four walks while fanning five. Chris Perez later turned in a scoreless ninth for his first save as the Tribe gave Terry Francona a win in his Cleveland managerial debut.

"A lot of the little things that were taking place that you need to do to win ballgames, we were able to do," Masterson said.

Melky Cabrera scored the lone run for the Blue Jays, who revamped their roster in the offseason thanks to a mega-deal with Miami and several free-agent signings.

Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (0-1), the reigning NL Cy Young winner, made his Blue Jays debut and first AL appearance in four seasons. He allowed five hits and four runs -- three earned -- with four walks and as many strikeouts in six frames.

His batterymate, catcher J.P. Arencibia, was charged with three passed balls.

"It was moving pretty good," Dickey said of his knuckleball.

Cleveland's Michael Bourn singled to start the fifth, then Asdrubal Cabrera's blast landed over the right-field wall for a 4-1 Tribe edge.

Masterson completed his outing by retiring the final 10 batters he faced. Joe Smith then set down the side in order in the seventh and Vinnie Pestano followed suit in the eighth.

Perez retired the first two batters in the ninth, then Arencibia doubled before Colby Rasmus fanned to end the contest.

Cleveland got to Dickey in the second, as a Chisenhall grounder scored one run and Stubbs followed with an RBI single for a 2-0 game.

The hosts broke through in the third. Melky Cabrera singled and moved up when Stubbs mishandled the ball, Edwin Encarnacion walked and Adam Lind followed with a double-play grounder that plated Cabrera.

Game Notes

Cleveland improved to 58-55 all-time on Opening Day, snapping a streak of four straight losses ... Toronto fell to 19-18 all-time on Opening Day, and had won six of its last eight openers prior to Tuesday ... Francona went 744-552 in eight seasons with the Red Sox from 2004-2011, which included two World Series titles ... Dickey finished 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA for the New York Mets last season, leading the NL in starts (33), complete games (5) and shutouts (3) ... Prior to the game, the Indians lost outfielder Ezequiel Carrera on waivers to the Phillies, assigned pitchers David Huff and Nick Hagadone to Triple-A Columbus, while selecting the contract of pitcher Scott Kazmir from Columbus ... The loss came in Gibbons' first game in his second stint as Jays manager, having gone 305-305 from 2004-08.






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