CLEVELAND (AP) - Yan Gomes took the blame. For the Indians, there was plenty to go around.
Cleveland’s catcher had a costly throwing error in the seventh inning that helped Toronto score two runs, and the Indians rallied in the ninth but lost 3-2 to the Blue Jays on Friday night.
Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer, but the Indians went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12.
They loaded the bases in the ninth inning against shaky closer Sergio Santos, but Michael Brantley hit a hard grounder to first for the final out, dropping the Indians to 2-6 in their last eight.
“We put ourselves in a tough spot,” manager Terry Francona said. “It’s hard to win those games.”
After Santana snapped a 1-for-30 slump with his first homer in the sixth to make it 2-1, the Indians made it easy for the Blue Jays to come back.
Cleveland starter Justin Masterson walked No. 9 hitter Ryan Goins with one out, and with Melky Cabrera coming up, Francona pulled his big right-hander. Cabrera had three hits off Masterson already in the game and is 15 for 27 in his career against him.
“If I was Tito, I would take me out there, too,” Masterson said.
Cabrera followed with a single off Marc Rzepczynski (0-1), and Munenori Kawasaki tied it with his single. Cody Allen came on to face Jose Bautista, but Gomes was the one who moved the runners ahead with his wild throw to first. Bautista was then walked intentionally and Edwin Encarnacion hammered an RBI single to center, putting the Blue Jays ahead 3-2.
Gomes and first baseman Nick Swisher had put on a play to try to pick off Kawasaki, but the throw skipped in the dirt and into right field.
“It’s a hard one to swallow,” said Gomes, who has five errors already this season after making just three in 2013. “Probably right there, it cost us the game.”
Masterson allowed six hits and struck out nine in 6 1-3 innings, but got his fourth no-decision in four starts.
With three rainouts so far, the Indians haven’t been able to get into a rhythm this season.
“It’s been interesting,” Masterson said. “But we’ve lost some close games and I think the momentum is starting to go in the right direction. It’s coming around.”
Steve Delabar (1-0), one of three Toronto relievers to combine for eight walks in the eighth inning of a loss at Minnesota on Thursday, got the win in relief of starter Drew Hutchison, who carried a shutout into the sixth and struck out nine.
Santana busted out of a long slump with his homer in the sixth off Hutchison to give the Indians a 2-1 lead.
Jason Kipnis, who had three hits, beat out an infield single and Santana, hitless in his previous 11 at-bats, drove a 3-2 pitch to right for his first homer since Sept. 28.
But the Indians couldn’t do much else and dropped two games under .500 for the first time this season.
“We’re going to get hits,” Francona said. “But we’ve left runners on third and that’s been costing us.”
NOTES: Brantley is wearing out Toronto pitchers. He’s hit in 10 consecutive games against the Blue Jays, batting .486 (18 for 37) with three doubles, a homer and five RBIs in that span. … Indians DH Jason Giambi is scheduled to come off the 15-day disabled list Monday. He’s been sidelined all season with a broken rib. Giambi is ready now, but the Indians wanted to wait and the 43-year-old was OK with the plan. “Every manager should have the luxury of having ’G’ once,” Francona said. “Unfortunately, no other manager is going to, because he’s going to stick with us. I’ve been around a lot of good players, but man, he gets it. He just wants to help.” … Corey Kluber (1-1) will start Saturday against Toronto LHP Mark Buehrle (3-0).
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