CLEVELAND _ Carlos Santana has been passing all kinds of tests this week.
On top of passing his test to become an American citizen, on Friday night Santana passed the test of being a clutch hitter, as he belted a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Indians to a 3-2 walk-off win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field.
With the Indians (4-3) and Blue Jays (3-6) deadlocked at 2, Santana drove a one-out offering from reliever Joe Biagini over the 19-foot wall in left field for an opposite-field home run. It was his first home run of the season and the Indians' first walk-off win of the year. As he crossed home plate, the usual mauling from teammates awaited him.
Earlier, Kevin Plawecki notched his first hit as a member of the Indians in the third inning by belting a solo home run to the bleacher seats in left field. It was the first home run hit by an Indians hitter this season besides Hanley Ramirez.
A few innings later, Freddy Galvis, who broke up the Indians' no-hit bid in the ninth inning of Thursday's game, launched a two-run home run to right field that put the Blue Jays on top 2-1.
The Indians tied it up in the bottom half of that inning thanks to Max Moroff, who started Thursday's game in place of Jose Ramirez. With Hanley Ramirez on first after a leadoff single to open the inning, Moroff with two outs doubled to right field to tie it, 2-2.
Shane Bieber turned in a quality outing in his first start of the season, allowing two runs on only two hits and two walks to go with nine strikeouts. Bieber's 2019 debut came in Minnesota, when he pitched two innings in mop-up duty as the Indians tried to balance their early schedule.
Ramirez was left out of the starting lineup after he left Thursday's game due to precautionary reasons with a left foot contusion. Holding him out was a cautious move with the Indians not wanting to risk anything with their star infielder while another _ Francisco Lindor _ is likely out a few more weeks. Ramirez entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning, where he drew a walk and then stole second base but couldn't come around to score.
"He woke up and he was really stiff and sore, which is not shocking when you look at the weather and everything," said Indians manager Terry Francona. "So we took him for precautionary X-rays. He's actually moving around a lot better already. ... I'd just hate to turn a one-day thing into a four-day thing, but I think he's going to be fine."
