Baseball: Cleveland extend series lead over Toronto

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller, who has been unstoppable in the playoffs. Photo / Getty

Pitcher Josh Tomlin baffled Blue Jays batters for nearly six innings and Andrew Miller blew them away as the Cleveland Indians edged Toronto 2-1 to take 2-0 lead in Major League Baseball's AL Championship Series.

Carlos Santana homered off 20-game winner JA Happ and Francisco Lindor had an RBI single for the Indians, who have won five straight post-season games for the first time in their 116-year history.

An afterthought in August, Tomlin has emerged as an unlikely October star for the Indians.

He allowed one run and three hits in 5-2/3 innings before Cleveland manager Terry Francona called on his bullpen led by the magnificent Miller, who is making the Blue Jays look like Little Leaguers.

The lanky left-hander struck out the side in the seventh, two more in the eighth and has 10 strikeouts in 3-2/3 innings in the series.

He has not allowed a run in 16 career post-season innings.

Cody Allen struck out Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista in a perfect ninth for the Indians, who had never been up 2-0 in four previous ALCS trips.

The winner of the best-of-seven series will play in the World Series.

Meanwhile, Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis will not play again this season after returning to Toronto on Saturday for more tests on his injured right knee.

- AAP