The game turned on one swing in the sixth inning. Jesus Sanchez's two-run homer to right field broke a 2-2 tie and carried Toronto to a 4-2 victory over Cleveland at Rogers Centre.
Sanchez finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs, providing all the offense Toronto needed after Cleveland had erased an early two-run deficit. The outfielder is batting .266 with four home runs and 15 RBIs this season.
Toronto jumped ahead in the first inning on consecutive scoring plays. Vladimir Guerrero singled to left to bring home Ernie Clement, then Sanchez hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Daulton Varsho for a 2-0 lead. Cleveland answered in the fifth when Brayan Rocchio singled to center to score Juan Brito, then Angel Martinez doubled to left to bring home Austin Hedges and tie the game. Sanchez's 355-foot homer in the sixth scored Guerrero and proved decisive.
Slade Cecconi took the loss for Cleveland, allowing four runs on six hits over 5.2 innings with five strikeouts. His ERA stands at 6.23 as he fell to 0-4. Braydon Fisher earned the win in relief for Toronto, pitching 1.1 innings with two strikeouts, while Louie Varland recorded his third save.
Toronto improved to 11-15 and snapped a losing streak. Cleveland fell to 15-13 after the loss.