• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Indians blank Blue Jays behind Carmona

May 12, 2008 - 11:29 PM By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Fausto Carmona was the last person that the Toronto Blue Jays' struggling offense needed to see.

Carmona threw his second career shutout Monday as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Blue Jays, 3-0, in the first game of a rare traditional doubleheader.

Toronto has not scored a run in its last 22 innings and have just one in the first three contests of this four-game series.

"It has been tough, but that is the way it has been," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "Carmona was great. He is one of the best guys in the league."

Carmona (4-1), whose other shutout came on May 17, 2007 against Minnesota, only struck out three. But the sinkerball specialist recorded 17 outs via ground balls.

"(Carmona) can do that to you," Gibbons said. "We couldn't do anything with him."

He scattered five hits and worked around four walks en route to his first complete game this season.

"I was able to stay on top of the ball and get first-pitch strikes," Carmona said through an interpreter.

Asdrubal Cabrera provided most of the offense with a two-run homer in the opener of the first traditional doubleheader in Cleveland since August 13, 1997 against Detroit. It is just the fourth such twinbill in the 15-year history of Progressive Field.

"Asdrubal has a knack for getting big hits late in the game," Indians manager Eric Wedge said.

A.J. Burnett (3-4) matched zeroes with Carmona until the sixth, when he gave up a two-out RBI single by David Dellucci. Cabrera provided insurance in the seventh with his first homer of the season.

"The way Fausto was pitching, we knew it wouldn't take a lot," Dellucci said. "He is fun to play behind."

Burnett pitched well, yielding three runs and just five hits with seven strikeouts, but the Blue Jays continued to struggle with the bats. They have not scored a run in their last 22 innings and have just one in the first three contests of this four-game series.

"A.J. was strong," Gibbons said. "The hit that hurt was Cabrera. It was a great pitcher's duel."

Carmona also benefited from some outstanding play by his defense.

With a runner on first and one out in the fourth, Matt Stairs lined a single to right. Scott Rolen tried to go to third on the play but was thrown out by Ben Francisco.

Trailing, 1-0, in the seventh, Toronto had runners on first and second with two outs. But first baseman Ryan Garko robbed Joe Inglett of a sure RBI when he made a diving stop and flipped to a covering Carmona to end the inning.

"Defensively, we were outstanding," Wedge said. "If Garko doesn't make that play, it's a tie ballgame."