Cleveland, OH – Danny Salazar tossed six superb innings in his major league debut to lead the Cleveland Indians over the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-2, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Progressive Field.
Asdrubal Cabrera homered and Lonnie Chisenhall added two hits and an RBI for the Indians, who won for just the third time in nine games.
Salazar (1-0) allowed just one run on two hits, striking out seven and walking one for Cleveland, which won a series from Toronto for the first time since 2010.
"Once I stepped on the mound I wasn't nervous," said Salazar, who will be sent back to the minors after the game. "I was only thinking about throwing the ball. I know I have good guys behind me."
R.A. Dickey (8-10) suffered the loss for the Blue Jays, yielding three runs -- two earned -- on six hits over six innings. He struck out seven and walked three, as Toronto has lost six of its last nine games.
Cabrera started the scoring for the Indians, clubbing his seventh homer of the season in the first inning.
Salazar, 23, cruised through the first five innings, only allowing a lead-off walk to Rajai Davis in the third inning.
Toronto finally got to Salazar in the sixth, when Jose Bautista doubled home Josh Thole to even the score at 1-1. Thole's leadoff single was the first hit allowed by Salazar in the game.
"From the start of the game he (Salazar) was poised and attacked the zone," said Cleveland manager Terry Francona. "This was exciting for the organization."
Cleveland made a winner of Salazar in the bottom half of the frame, getting to Dickey for two more runs. With the bases loaded, Chisenhall's two-out single to left-center scored Michael Brantley. Ryan Raburn also scored on the play thanks to a a throwing error by Davis on the play, making it 3-1.
Dickey has now lost consecutive starts after winning three consecutive decisions to get back to the .500 mark.
The Indians added a run in the eighth when Carlos Santana tripled home Drew Stubbs.
Toronto got a run in the ninth off Cleveland closer Chris Perez when Colby Rasmus singled home Adam Lind with two outs. However, Perez eventually got Davis to fly out to end the game and secure his 11th save of the season.
Toronto has lost 11 of 17 overall.
Game Notes
The Indians won four of six games from the Blue Jays this season... Toronto is 1-2 on its current six-game road trip... Cleveland improved to 3-4 on its current 10-game homestand ... Salazar was 5-5 with a 3.08 ERA in 17 starts between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus this season ... Bautista went just 1-for-12 in the series.
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