Dickey still winless at home after Jays' 4-1 loss to Indians
TORONTO (AP) - There hasn't been any comfort at home for R.A. Dickey this season.
Dickey allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings in the Toronto Blue Jays' 4-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.
Carlos Carrasco struck out a season-high 14, Jason Kipnis and Rajai Davis hit solo home runs and the Indians matched a franchise record by winning their 13th consecutive game.
Dickey (5-9) has allowed six home runs in his past two starts, all of them solo shots. The knuckleballer is 0-6 with a 5.14 ERA in eight home starts.
"If I keep pitching well, it's going to turn," Dickey said. "I just have to keep doing my part."
Toronto has scored just 12 runs for Dickey in his starts at Rogers Centre.
Davis hit a leadoff shot off Dickey in the second and Kipnis hit a one-out drive in the third.
"They ran into a few that didn't do much," Dickey said.
Manager John Gibbons said Dickey deserved a better fate.
"He pitched good enough to win," Gibbons said, "but on a night like tonight when you're not scoring any runs it's awfully tough."
Cleveland's streak is the longest by any team this season, and the longest for the Indians since they won 13 straight in August 1951. Cleveland also won 13 in a row in 1942.
It's the longest streak by an AL team since Oakland won 20 straight in 2002.
The Indians went 22-6 in June, the best single month in team history.
"It feels great," Carrasco said. "We've played really hard and we need to continue that. Everything is coming together."
Indians manager Terry Francona said Carrasco "pitched his heart out."
Coming off a four-hit shutout victory at Detroit, Carrasco (4-2) allowed one run and three hits in 7 1/3 innings to win back-to-back starts for the first time since April 13 and 19. The right-hander was sidelined from April 25 to June 2 with a strained left hamstring.
"No doubt about it, it was Carrasco's night," Gibbons said. "He was on."
Carrasco's career-high in strikeouts is 15, set last Sept. 25 at Kansas City. Against Toronto, he struck out four straight in the third and fourth innings, then fanned six straight in the sixth, seventh and eighth.
Bryan Shaw replaced Carrasco after Darwin Barney ended the strikeout streak with a double. Shaw struck out pinch hitter Russell Martin, walked Ezequiel Carrera, then fanned Josh Donaldson to end the inning.
Cody Allen got the last three outs for his 17th save.
FAN CLUB
Toronto struck out 10 or more times for the 24th time this season. They did it 28 times in all of 2015. The Blue Jays finished with 17 strikeouts, their most since fanning 17 times against Texas on July 18, 2014.
FIVE ALIVE
Dickey has pitched at least five innings in 58 consecutive home starts, the longest active streak in the majors.
FAMILIAR FACES
Cleveland and Toronto met for the first time since longtime Indians employee Mark Shapiro took over as president of the Blue Jays last Novemver. Shapiro also hired former Cleveland colleague Ross Atkins to serve as Toronto's GM. Shapiro was with the Indians for 24 years before joining Toronto.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Indians: OF Michael Brantley (right shoulder) continues to hit in the cage and do soft toss drills without pain, manager Terry Francona said. Brantley, who is not with the team, resumed hitting drills earlier this week after setbacks in May and June.
Blue Jays: Prior to the game, LHP Brett Cecil was activated off the 15-day DL and RHP Ryan Tepera was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. Cecil missed 42 games with sore left triceps. Cecil relieved Dickey and pitched a perfect eighth. ... SS Troy Tulowitzki got the day off.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin (9-1, 3.32) starts for Cleveland in a Canada Day matinee on Friday. Tomlin is 1-0 with a 5.19 ERA in three career starts against Toronto.
Blue Jays: RHP Marcus Stroman (6-4, 5.33) has allowed 38 earned runs in his past eight starts and has lost three of his past four decisions.