CLEVELAND -- With doubleheaders slated for consecutive days, the Indians needed length out of Aaron Civale in Game 1 against the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon, and that’s exactly what they got. But the defense and a pair of long balls stood in the way of a victory.

Sloppy defense gave Toronto a chance to score in the third inning, before solo shots from Teoscar Hernández and Rowdy Tellez put the game out of reach in the fourth, resulting in the Indians’ 4-1 seven-inning loss in the matinee against the Blue Jays at Progressive Field.

With the uncertainty of how many innings Cleveland’s more inexperienced arms Sam Hentges (Game 2 on Sunday) and Triston McKenzie (Game 1 on Monday against the White Sox) could give the team, Civale’s start was crucial for the Indians’ bullpen. On the heels of an eight-plus inning outing, the righty came close to another complete game, working six-plus innings on 87 pitches. Civale worked himself into trouble in the seventh, and turned the ball over to Phil Maton with runners on second and third and no outs.

Although it was a big pick up for Cleveland to only need to use one reliever for one inning in Game 1 on Sunday, it wasn’t surprising that Civale worked into the seventh. He entered the day having averaged 6 2/3 innings per start this season, and was hoping to walk away with a share of the Major League lead with eight wins.