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TOR@CWS: Romero tosses six innings of two-run ball

Cleveland's offense continues to shine, while Toronto's banged-up pitching staff is treading water.

On Friday night, in the first game after the All-Star break for both teams, the Indians will see if they can stay hot at the plate against a Blue Jays pitching staff that has allowed 49 runs in eight July games.

Michael Brantley has led the way for Cleveland through the first eight games of July, with a .370 batting average (10-for-27), two homers and seven RBIs.

Justin Masterson will take the mound for the Tribe after being roughed up by the Rays over 4 1/3 innings his last outing, when he gave up eight runs on nine hits and four walks while recording seven strikeouts.

Opposing Masterson will be lefty Ricky Romero, who lost to the White Sox his last time out, giving up four hits and three walks across six innings of two-run ball.

Romero has lost each of his last three starts, and he gave up eight runs in each of the two starts prior to his most recent outing.

The Blue Jays have given Romero plenty of run support this season on his way to an 8-4 record, which belies his 5.22 ERA.

"I think our offense has performed as we anticipated," Toronto manager John Farrell said. "I felt like this was a very good group, a strong group that returned from a year ago and [has had] a full season of Brett [Lawrie], Colby [Rasmus], [Kelly Johnson]. ... Some natural progressions in some other areas have given us the strength in the offense that we're realizing."

Indians: Hagadone undergoes surgery
On Tuesday, reliever Nick Hagadone underwent surgery on the area between his left forearm and wrist, which he fractured while punching something after being removed from Friday's 10-3 loss to the Rays. Hagadone was optioned to Triple-A Columbus before Saturday's game but was placed on the Minor League disqualified list on Sunday. Hagadone will not be paid while he is on the disqualified list.

June and July were particularly difficult months for Hagadone. In 11 appearances, he posted a 14.00 ERA, and he allowed two runs in two-thirds of an inning in Friday's game.

Blue Jays: Encarnacion signs extension
• In the midst of a breakout season, Edwin Encarnacion signed a three-year, $27 million contract extension on Thursday.

Encarnacion is hitting .295 with 23 home runs and 58 RBIs this season, his fourth with Toronto. He has split time between first base and designated hitter and is one homer shy of his career high, which he set with Cincinnati in 2008.

The 29-year-old Encarnacion would have been eligible for agency after this season.

• Brett Lawrie was absent from the starting lineup for Sunday's 11-9 win over the White Sox because of lower back tightness.

Farrell noticed that his third baseman was fighting discomfort during Saturday's game, in which he went 1-for-3 before exiting in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Lawrie was batting .324 with one homer in his last eight games, and he has a .291 average with eight home runs and 33 RBIs on the season.

Worth noting
• Cleveland leads Toronto, 2-1, in the season series.

• The Blue Jays will send another southpaw to the mound in the second game of the series, starting Aaron Laffey against the Indians' lefty-heavy lineup.

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