Cabrera’s throw dooms Tribe

Associated Press

TORONTO

Justin Masterson has known mostly success against the Blue Jays — but he didn’t have much after the third inning Tuesday night.

R.A. Dickey won for the third time in four starts, Juan Francisco homered and Toronto beat Masterson and the Cleveland Indians 5-4.

Masterson (2-2) matched a season high by allowing five runs and six hits in 51/3 innings.

The right-hander came in 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 15 games against Toronto, and had allowed just one earned run in his previous 13 innings at Rogers Centre.

But after starting his night with three perfect frames, Masterson allowed five runs and six hits in the next 21/3 innings.

Masterson said his own pitch selection was partly to blame for Toronto’s outburst.

“I just didn’t mix it up as well,” Masterson said. “That was the biggest thing. They made a good adjustment to stay with the ball and I just didn’t combat the adjustment by mixing it up, maybe throwing a few more sliders.”

Jose Reyes spoiled Masterson’s perfect start with a leadoff triple in the fourth. Melky Cabrera followed with a sacrifice fly to the warning track in center.

Francisco put the Blue Jays in front with a one-out homer in the fifth, a drive into the second deck. The homer was the first allowed by Masterson in 29 1-3 innings.

Toronto chased Masterson and added three more runs in the sixth. Adam Lind hit a two-run double and scored on Francisco’s double.

“He got a couple of balls up that they stayed on pretty well,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.

Cabrera made a one-hop throw from left field to get Carlos Santana at home plate to end the eighth inning, preserving a one-run Toronto lead.

“That was just heroic, is what that was,” a grateful Dickey said. “It saved the game.”

Santana said he had to alter his slide because Yan Gomes’ bat was still lying just outside the batter’s box.

“Melky made a great throw and the bat was in the middle,” Santana said. “I tried to go inside.”

Dickey (4-3) allowed two earned runs and four hits in six-plus innings. He walked two and struck out six.