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Indians try to make up ground in opener with Blue Jays

Jul 9, 2013 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians look to stay in the hunt for the AL Central lead when they begin a three-game series versus the Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field.

The Indians have lost five of six games and dropped three of four contests with the Detroit Tigers, including Monday's 4-2 setback in 10 innings. Victor Martinez stroked a two-run double in the top of the 10th inning off Indians reliever Matt Albers.

"Last pitch to Victor was just a breaking ball I was trying to keep down and away. It just kind of leaked back over the plate," Albers said.

Scott Kazmir threw 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball in the no-decision.

Lonnie Chisenhall drove in two runs for Cleveland.

The Indians are 3 1/2 games behind Detroit for the division lead and will also host Kansas City on this 10-game homestand.

Slated to pitch for the Tribe Tuesday is Ubaldo Jimenez. Jimenez has posted two no-decisions in a row and is 2-0 over his past five outings. In a 10-7 loss at Kansas City on July 4, Jimenez allowed four runs, three of which were earned, and three hits in five innings. He is still 6-4 on the season to go along with a 4.67 ERA in 17 starts.

Jimenez has faced the Blue Jays once this season and did not get a decision following six innings of one-run ball, leaving him 1-1 with a 5.91 ERA in four career meetings with Toronto.

The Blue Jays completed a homestand with a 3-4 mark and took two of three games from the Minnesota Twins over the weekend. In Sunday's 11-5 pounding of the Twins, Jose Reyes, Rajai Davis and Colby Rasmus all homered, while Rasmus and Davis both drove in three runs and combined for five runs scored.

Todd Redmond lasted five innings, allowing one hit and two runs along with four strikeouts, but walked three en route to his first major league victory.

"He knew the situation. He's here to fill in due to injuries and he made the most of his opportunity to start," Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He couldn't have done a better job."

Toronto will also visit Baltimore on this road trip.

Josh Johnson's turbulent season with the Blue Jays resumes Tuesday and he is 1-3 with a 4.89 earned run average through 10 starts in his first year north of the border. Johnson lost his last time out in a 6-2 setback versus Detroit and was touched for six runs (1 earned) and seven hits in five innings.

Johnson, a right-hander, is 0-2 in three road assignments this season, but did beat the Indians the only time he faced them last May 20 as a member of the Marlins. Johnson fired seven innings of one-run ball in a 5-3 victory at Progressive Field.

The Jays lost two of three matchups with the Indians in early April at Rogers Centre.