The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Lindor’s walkoff HR gives Tribe the victory
Francisco Lindor hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the 10th inning and the Indians defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 on July 22 at Progressive Field.
Lindor hit a 2-2 pitch from Danny Barnes (2-3) to right field for his 15th homer of the season just as a hard rain began to fall. Lindor dashed around the bases, was mobbed by his teammates at home plate and was doused by several coolers of water.
It was Lindor’s first walkoff homer.
The Progressive Field grounds crew put the tarp on the field while Cleveland’s players were still celebrating the victory.
Bryan Shaw (3-4) retired Kevin Pillar on a groundout with two on to end the 10th.
Danny Salazar came off the disabled list and held Toronto to one hit in seven innings. Cleveland led, 1-0, but Justin Smoak homered on Andrew Miller’s first pitch in the eighth.
Smoak’s towering drive
barely cleared the wall in right field and hit off the railing in front of the first row of seats for his 27th homer.
Cody Allen walked Darwin Barney to lead off the ninth. Left fielder Michael Brantley caught Jose Bautista’s fly ball in front of the warning track and made a perfect throw to second baseman Jose Ramirez to
get Barney, who tagged up.
Salazar, activated before the game after being out since June 3 because of a sore right shoulder, struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter. Pillar’s leadoff single in the third was the only hit he allowed.
Salazar retired the last 14 hitters he faced and was pulled after throwing 86 pitches.
Edwin Encarnacion’s RBI groundout in the fourth put Cleveland ahead. Third baseman Josh Donaldson couldn’t turn an inningending double play after bobbling the hard-hit ball, allowing Lindor to score from third.
Stroman gave up five hits, struck out seven and walked five in 7 2/3 innings.
Salazar came out firing
in the first, striking out the side on 12 pitches and hitting in the mid-to-high 90s on the radar gun. He made his first start since May 27. Salazar was moved to the bullpen to monitor his innings but was placed on the DL on June 6. the lineup, but is expected to play Sunday. He was injured running to first base in his final at-bat Friday.