Toronto @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2011 ) Toronto 4, Cleveland 5

THE STORY: Just when it looks like the Cleveland Indians are about to collapse, they somehow find a way to fight back. They squandered a huge early lead in the American League Central last month but have regained their form of late, winning five of seven to start July. The last of those victories came Thursday, when Cleveland again appeared down and out before rallying in the bottom of the ninth and winning on Travis Hafner’s walk-off grand slam. After a blown call at home plate cost them a series win against the Boston Red Sox, the Blue Jays found themselves on the bad end of Hafner’s blast for a third consecutive loss. Toronto will be looking to snap out of it when it sends Jo-Jo Reyes to the mound at Cleveland on Friday night.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, RSN, STO

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Mitch Talbot (2-5, 5.60 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Jo-Jo Reyes (3-7, 4.85 ERA).

Talbot has struggled mightily since coming off the disabled list on May 25, going 1-5 with a 6.86 ERA and a .355 batting average against. The Utah native lasted only four innings in a loss at Cincinnati last Sunday, surrendering six runs on 10 hits. Talbot’s lone win in that stretch came against Toronto on May 31, when he allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings.

Reyes has not been sharp lately, either, allowing a total of 14 runs in 15 innings over his last three turns. The 26-year-old had his best start of the season against the Indians on May 30, yielding one run in his first career complete game.

ABOUT THE INDIANS (47-39): Hafner became just the seventh player in the last 25 years to hit a walk-off grand slam with his team trailing by three runs when he belted a towering blast to right off Luis Perez on Thursday to give Cleveland a 5-4 win. The victory was the 20th of the come-from-behind variety for the Indians this season. Hafner finished 3-for-5 for his second multi-hit game in a row. The last time the slugger had multiple hits in two straight was May 4-5. It wasn’t all good news for Cleveland, however, as top prospect Lonnie Chisenhall was forced out of the game in the second inning after taking a pitch off the right cheekbone from Carlos Villanueva. Chisenhall, who hit his first career homer on Wednesday against the Yankees, suffered a contusion.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (42-47): In one of the toughest stretches any team has to face this season, Toronto managed to avoid a sweep against the Philadelphia Phillies with a win on Sunday and carried that momentum into a 9-7 victory at Fenway Park on the Fourth of July. The Blue Jays looked as though they were on the verge of a third straight win Tuesday, but a blown call at home plate resulted in the final out and a 3-2 loss to Boston. Another setback in Wednesday’s series finale rolled into Hafner’s walk-off, pushing the Blue Jays five games under .500 for the first time since May 9. At least Jose Bautista is heating up again. The slugger lifted his league-leading total to 29 with his fifth homer in seven games Thursday.

FINAL PITCH: Toronto righthander Dustin McGowan continues to make his way back after multiple arm surgeries. The 29-year-old, who has not pitched in the majors since July 8, 2008, pitched two scoreless innings for Class A Dunedin on Wednesday.