Encarnacion, Osuna lead Blue Jays over Indians 6-5

CLEVELAND — Roberto Osuna had no negative thoughts when Tyler Naquin came to the plate in the ninth inning.

And this time the Toronto Blue Jays closer emerged victorious.

Osuna bounced back from a nightmarish outing to record the save in Saturday night’s 6-5 win over the Cleveland Indians.

The Blue Jays were stunned Friday night on Naquin’s game-ending inside-the-park home run off Osuna that gave the Indians a 3-2 win.

The latest matchup between division leaders also had plenty of drama, with Osuna retiring Naquin on a groundout to end it.

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“I wanted to face the same guys,” Osuna said after recording his 28th save. “I made my mistake last night and I had to pay for it. If you want to catch me today, catch me with my best pitch.”

Osuna, who has blown only three saves in 31 chances, was happy to get back on the mound as quickly as possible.

“It’s not easy to forget about it, but it’s part of the game,” he said.

Osuna also gave up a tying homer to Jose Ramirez on Friday, but retired the switch-hitter on a fly ball. The right-hander struck out Lonnie Chisenhall before getting Naquin.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons had no doubt that Osuna would rebound from Friday’s performance.

“What’s the big deal?” he said. “Everybody blows a game every now and then, if you’ve been watching baseball at all. That game was over with.”

Edwin Encarnacion’s leadoff homer in the fifth, his 35th of the season, put Toronto back on top after Cleveland scored five times in the fourth to erase a 5-0 deficit.

Gibbons credited his team for answering quickly after Cleveland tied the game.

“Normally, if my memory serves me right, you cough up a lead like that you usually collapse but we bounced back with that big home run from Eddie,” he said.

Joe Biagini (4-2) pitched two scoreless innings.

Josh Tomlin (11-7), activated from the family medical emergency list before the game, allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings. He gave up three home runs and has allowed an AL-leading 32.

Melvin Upton Jr.’s two-run homer, Russell Martin’s solo home run and a two-run single by Devon Travis built the early lead.

Aaron Sanchez didn’t allow a hit through three innings, but Cleveland sent nine men to the plate in the fourth. Mike Napoli’s sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Ramirez made it 5-2. Chisenhall’s three-run homer ended a 10-pitch at-bat and tied the game.

Tomlin, who returned to his home in Texas on Wednesday, gave up Travis’ infield hit that scored two in the second. Toronto scored three in the third on Martin’s solo home run and Upton’s two-run homer.

“It was a tough night for him to pitch because he’s a fly-ball pitcher,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “They’re a very good hitting team.”

Tomlin won his first seven decisions and was 9-1 on June 26, but the right-hander is 0-4 with a 10.02 ERA in last four starts.

Sanchez allowed five runs — four earned — in four innings.

Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (jammed thumb) missed his second straight game. Troy Tulowitzki returned as the designated hitter after not playing Friday because of a strained calf.

NO EXCUSES

Sanchez took the blame for not holding the early lead and giving up the big fourth inning.

“I don’t deserve to win that game if I can’t hold a 5-0 lead,” he said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: Gibbons thinks Donaldson, who hasn’t played since Wednesday, will be available for the series finale Sunday.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: RHP Marcus Stroman allowed two runs and struck out eight over 6 1/3 innings in his last start against Houston.

Indians: RHP Corey Kluber got the loss against the Blue Jays on July 3 at Rogers Centre, allowing five runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Steve Herrick, The Associated Press