TORONTO: 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 Thursday night, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1.
The Indians’ streak is the longest by any team this season, and the longest for the Indians since winning 13 straight in 1951. They also won 13 in a row in 1942.
Indians starting pitchers are 10-0 during the streak, and they have outscored their opponents 80-26.
Carrasco (4-2) allowed one run and three hits in 7⅓ 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.
Carrasco’s career high in strikeouts is 15, set Sept. 25 at Kansas City. Against the Blue Jays, he struck out four in a row in the third and fourth innings, then struck out six consecutively 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 struck out Josh Donaldson to end the inning.
Cody Allen got the last three outs for his 17th save.
Davis hit a leadoff shot off R.A. Dickey in the second, and Kipnis hit a one-out drive in the third.
Dickey (5-9) allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings. The knuckleballer has allowed six home runs in his past two starts, all of them solo shots. He is 0-6 with a 5.14 ERA in eight home starts.
Donaldson provided the Blue Jays’ only offense with a two-out solo homer off Carrasco in the fourth.
Trainer’s room
Indians: Outfielder 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: Left-hander Brett Cecil was activated off the 15-day DL and right-hander Ryan Tepera was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. Cecil missed 42 games with sore left triceps. Cecil relieved Dickey and pitched a perfect eighth.