Lindor Slams Two HR's, Bieber Earns 9th Win As Indians Top Jays 9-4; Three Takeaways

The Indians and Jays began a four-game series in Toronto on Thursday night, and behind a big night by Francisco Lindor and some solid pitching by Shane Bieber,

The Indians and Jays began a four-game series in Toronto on Thursday night, and behind a big night by Francisco Lindor and some solid pitching by Shane Bieber, the Tribe moved to 80-60 with a 9-4 win over Toronto.

Lindor blasted two homers and drove in four runs, while Bieber moved to 9-3 with the win, going 6.1 allowing three runs.

The Indians were behind 4-2 after the Jays pushed across four runs against Bieber in the 4th, but came back with three in the fifth on a two-out two-run single by Lindor to put them ahead for good.

The night was capped off by Jason Kipnis, who hit another homer, his 15h, off Blue Jays reliever Mark Leiter Jr. in the ninth to put the game out of reach at 9-4.

Here's three takeaways from the win for the Indians as the magic number keeps dwindling to win the AL Central.

1. Slow and Steady Bieber

The Tribe starter had his moments where it looked like he was going to lose his composure, but give him credit as after the Jays put up a four-spot in the fourth, he didn't allow another run over the last two plus innings.

On the night he went 6.1, allowing four runs on seven hits with one walk and six K's, throwing 89 pitches, 62 of which were strikes.

It was a good bounce back game for Bieber, who was coming off a 5-3 loss to the Rays at Progressive Field last week in which he gave up four runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings.

Bieber will get another shot at the Rays on Wednesday in Tampa in his next start.

2. Kip Keeps Hitting

Jason Kipnis is creating an interesting problem for the Indians - he's hitting better than at any point in the 2018 season.

Thursday he was at it again, hitting his 15th homer of the year, a three-run shot in the 9th to extend the Indians lead from 6-4 to 9-4.

He's hitting .230 on the season, and while everyone is awaiting the arrival of Josh Donaldson to push Kip out of a spot in the lineup, he's 15-for-38 (.394) in his last 11 games with four homers and 14 runs batted in.

He came through with a big hit to take the drama out of the bottom of the 9th in the Thursday win.

3. Lindorific

While Shane Bieber was helping hold the Jay at bay, Francisco Lindor's two homers were the big hits of the night, as he went 4-for-5 with two homers and four RBI.

He slammed right-hander Sam Gaviglio's third pitch of the game for his 10th career leadoff homer and seventh this season.

He came back off Gaviglio again in the third for his eighth career multihomer game.

Lindor has 33 home runs, matching his total from last year. He added a two-run single in the fifth and singled again in the ninth.

With him and JRam at the top of that lineup, the Indians are setting up for two very tough outs come the postseason.