UPDATED: Justin Masterson takes it on the chin as the Indians lose by a lopsided score for the third straight night.
View full sizeThe Blue Jays' Aaron Hill slides safely into home past Indians catcher Carlos Santana, right, and pitcher Justin Masterson during fourth inning Friday in Toronto.Updated at 11:20 p.m.
TORONTO — The Indians were rendered noncompetitive for the third straight night Friday, but they did make another trade.
Shortly after absorbing an 8-1 beating at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays, the Indians announced that they'd traded veteran outfielder Austin Kearns to the Yankees for a player to be named or cash. GM Mark Shapiro said the Indians have until Aug. 20 to choose a player from a small list of prospects.
"He'll be a prospect, but he will have major league value," said Shapiro.
Shapiro added that Michael Brantley will be recalled in the immediate future. Brantley was optioned to Class AAA Columbus on Tuesday and must stay in the minors for 10 days.
"We will announce the corresponding move on Saturday," said Shapiro. "It will be a short-term move. Our bullpen has still been severely taxed."
Kearns, who was playing left field against the Blue Jays, was removed from the game after a seventh-inning single.
"I thought something might be up when they took me out of the game," said Kearns. "I've been traded once before and you never know when it's coming."
Kearns doubled and singled Friday before being replaced by pinch-runner Chris Gimenez.
He made the Indians out of spring training. He will join the Yankees hitting .272 with eight homers and 42 RBI.
"I've got a soft spot for this guy," said manager Manny Acta. "He played for me in Washington and he came to camp this spring for the first time without a guaranteed job.
"He made the club and he carried this club for about a month or so when Grady Sizemore got hurt and some of our other older guys weren't performing. I'm glad he's getting a chance to go to a contender at this stage of his career and maybe win a ring."
The deadline for making deals without waivers if 4 p.m. today. Jake Westbrook is scheduled to start for the Indians. He is also the Indians biggest bargaining chip.
"This is a very active time for teams," said Shapiro, when asked about the possibility of making other moves. "I don't know if we'll get anything else done."
Kearns' contract with the Indians is worth $750,000. He is the third veteran the Indians have traded. They shipped Russell Branyan to Seattle on June 26 and sent Jhonny Peralta to Detroit on Wednesday.
Masterson, with a tired bullpen behind him after early exits by Fausto Carmona and Mitch Talbot on Wednesday and Thursday against the Yankees, came back after the six-run fourth and pitched into the sixth inning. He paid a price.
The 6-6, 250-pound right-hander allowed eight runs on 13 hits. Masterson (3-10, 5.55) walked two, struck out three, threw a wild pitch and allowed two homers. He threw 114 pitches.
In his last five starts, Masterson is 0-3 with a 7.85 ERA. He allowed 25 earned runs on 29 hits in 28 innings.
"He's been up and down lately," said Acta, "but I still think he's better than he was at the beginning of the year.
"The night belonged to Shaun Marcum," said Acta. "He had great command of that cutter. He just pretty much manhandled our guys.
"Justin on the other hand is a sinkerball/slider kind of guy and just couldn't keep the ball down. He threw a lot of pitches up in the zone and they took advantage."
Marcum (10-4, 3.24) retired 12 straight batters to start the game. He struck out 10 in seven innings.
At least the Indians weren't shut out. They lead the AL with eight shutouts, but they rallied for a run in the fifth.
Carlos Santana started the inning with an infield single for their first hit of the night. Austin Kearns doubled him to third and he scored on Matt LaPorta's sacrifice fly. It cut Toronto's lead to 7-1.
In Thursday's 11-4 loss to New York, the Indians gave up seven runs in the seventh. The big hit of Toronto's six-run fourth was Jose Bautista's grand slam. It was his 31st homer of the season.
The Jays sent 10 men to the plate and had seven hits.
Fred Lewis gave the Jays a 1-0 lead with a leadoff homer in the third.
To reach this Plain Dealer Reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158.