Jays’ bats go silent in ALCS

Toronto had just seven extra-base hits in five games.

Five games. Eight runs. Two shutout losses.

A power-laden Toronto Blue Jays lineup fizzled against Cleveland, finishing off a five-game AL Championship Series wipeout with a 3-0 loss Wednesday.

Bidding to return to the World Series for the first time since 1993, the Blue Jays were held to six hits by rookie Ryan Merritt and three relievers in the Indians’ second shutout of the series.

Toronto lost in the ALCS for the second straight year.

“I’m sure there will be some disappointments and grumbling and complaining about how you fell short again, but that’s not coming from me,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “The key is we want to take that next step one of these days, hopefully it’s next year.”

An offense led by Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion and Troy Tulowitzki produced seven extra-base hits in the series — three doubles, two triples and two solo home runs.

Toronto beat Baltimore in the wild-card game, winning on Encarnacion’s 11th-inning homer. The Blue Jays swept Texas in the division series, outhomering the Rangers 8-2 and outscoring them 22-10.

Bautista’s two hits in the finale left him 3 for 18 (.167) with no RBIs in the series, and Encarnacion was 4 for 19 (.211) with two RBIs. Tulowitzki was 2 for 18 (.111) with no RBIs and Donaldson 6 for 18 (.333) with two RBIs.

Yankees: Former pitcher Hiroki Kuroda said he will retire at the end of the Japan Series. Kuroda, 41, went 10-8 this season with a 3.09 ERA for the Hiroshima Carp.

Twins: The Twin Cities chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America voted second baseman Brian Dozier the winner of Calvin Griffith Award for the most valuable player, the Charles Johnson Award for the most improved player and the Bob Allison Award for determination, hustle, tenacity, competitive spirit and leadership.