Indians send Talbot to the hill in opener with Blue Jays

Baseball Betting Lines

05/03/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mitch Talbot takes aim at his fourth win of the season this evening when the Cleveland Indians open a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field.

Talbot, acquired from Tampa this offseason for catcher Kelly Shoppach, has been a pleasant surprise for the Indians, going 3-1 with a 2.05 earned run average. Talbot won his third straight start last Tuesday in Anaheim, as he held the Angels to a run and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

"The first four or five innings, I felt sharp," said Talbot. "Pitches were going where I wanted them to. Luck was on my side tonight. They were hitting the ball hard, but right at someone."

The 26-year-old right-hander, who has never faced Toronto, has allowed just two earned runs over his last three starts and has not allowed a home run in his last 19 1/3 innings. He may have his work cut out for him this evening, as the Blue Jays enter tonight's tilt tied for the major league lead with 38 home runs and leading the majors with 113 extra-base hits.

Cleveland could use a big start from Talbot this evening after dropping two of three over the weekend to the Minnesota Twins, including an 8-3 setback in Sunday's finale.

Indians starter David Huff (1-4) took the loss after allowing four runs on 10 hits and two walks in five-plus innings. Cleveland was aiming for a second straight win, something it still hasn't done since winning four in a row in mid-April.

"David didn't have good command at all," said Indians manager Manny Acta. "It seemed like whenever he needed to throw a strike he threw a ball, and whenever he needed to throw a ball he threw a lot of balls right down the middle of the plate."

Toronto pulled out a series win at home over Oakland on Sunday, as Alex Gonzalez and Fred Lewis each smashed a two-run homer, helping the Blue Jays to a 9-3 win in the finale of a four-game series at Rogers Centre.

Aaron Hill hit a solo home run for Toronto, finishing 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBI. The Jays took three of the four in the series after entering with a five-game losing streak.

Blue Jays starter Shaun Marcum (1-1) gave up one run on six hits, walked four and struck out six over 6 1/3 innings to pick up his first win since September 11, 2008. He missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

"We were able to give (Marcum) some offense today," said Toronto catcher John Buck.

Heading to the hill tonight will be young lefty Brett Cecil, who is 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA. Cecil was charged with a hard-luck loss on Wednesday against Boston, as he allowed one runs and five hits in six innings.

Cecil also hasn't had any luck when it comes to pitching against the Indians. He has faced them two times and has yielded just one earned run in 13 innings of those outings, but does not have a decision to show for it.

Toronto split its eight meetings with the Tribe a year ago.

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