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Indians-Blue Jays Preview

Jul 20, 2009 - 7:06 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Cleveland (36-57) at Toronto (46-47), 7:07 p.m. EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays' early season success came at the expense of the AL Central. Having fallen back in the standings of their own division, they hope to regain some of that momentum against the Cleveland Indians.

The Blue Jays look to win three straight for the first time in a month Tuesday when they open a three-game series with the Indians at Rogers Centre.

Toronto (46-47) went 19-10 to start the season and held a one-game advantage over Boston in the AL East. Twelve of those wins came against teams from the Central.

The Blue Jays have struggled recently, but they enter this series after taking two of three from the Red Sox at home over the weekend, winning 3-1 on Sunday. Roy Halladay pitched a six-hitter and Rod Barajas, who was mired in an 0-for-18 slump, drove in three runs.

Halladay, who is at the center of trade talks, tipped his cap before leaving the field, but denied he was saying goodbye.

"You have to kind of live in the moment and that's all I'm trying to do," he said.

Toronto hasn't won three straight since June 21-24, when it improved to 40-33. Since then it has one of the worst records in the AL, going 6-14.

The Blue Jays, 18-9 against teams from the Central, have won three of five against the Indians (36-57) - owners of the worst record in the AL. Adam Lind, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games Sunday, is 10 for 22 (.455) with three doubles, two homers and 11 RBIs against Cleveland.

Lind and the Blue Jays will face reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee (5-9, 3.31 ERA), who is looking to build on his first win in a month.

Lee pitched his second complete game of the season Thursday in a 4-1 victory over Seattle. He gave up nine hits and struck out six.

The left-hander is 1-4 with a 4.37 ERA against Toronto. He pitched five innings against the Blue Jays at home April 11, allowing four runs and seven hits in a 5-4 loss.

Lee takes the mound for the Indians after they dropped the final three games of a four-game set with the Mariners over the weekend, including a 5-3 defeat Sunday.

Seattle scored once in the eighth and again in the ninth to take the lead. The Indians had a runner on with two outs in the ninth when Ichiro Suzuki caught Victor Martinez's potential game-tying, two-run homer at the wall.

Cleveland struck out 12 times and went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. The Indians' first four batters in the lineup were 0 for 15 with five strikeouts.

"Offensively, I still believe in these guys," manager Eric Wedge said. "I thought Victor's ball had a chance."

Brett Cecil (3-1, 5.40) will face Cleveland's punchless offense Tuesday. Cecil pitched six innings against Baltimore on July 10, allowing four hits while striking out five in a 2-0 victory.

The rookie left-hander made his major league debut against Cleveland on May 5 and didn't receive a decision after allowing two runs over six innings of a 10-6 win. He struck out six with no walks, but hit three batters.