Indians starter Zach Plesac hasn’t experienced a start like Tuesday’s since April 20.

For the first time in 10 outings, Plesac found himself in the loss column after giving up six runs on 10 hits in five innings in Cleveland’s 7-2 loss to Toronto at Rogers Centre.

“The pitch count was up after the first,” Plesac said. “I wanted to give the team as many [innings] as I could, get as many zeros as I could. I battled, and they battled too. They got the better hand today.”

Plesac was working from behind from the first batter he faced. George Springer hit a leadoff homer that led to a three-run first inning for the Blue Jays on 34 pitches. Plesac worked around some traffic in the second inning and settled in for the third. But he couldn’t keep himself on the right track, giving up three more runs over his last two innings, resulting in his first loss since April 20, when he permitted six runs in five frames against the White Sox.

“Mislocated his fastball,” Indians acting manager DeMarlo Hale said. “And he paid [for it]. I don't think it was to both sides of the plate like he wanted to. He got some on the outer half, for sure. But he didn't have that both sides of the plate with his fastball. They got to him in the first inning with the two home runs. But he battled. When you look up, the score is still pretty tight. Got us to the fifth. We still had the game in hand, trying to climb back.”

Six of Plesac’s 10 hits allowed came on his heater. It induced just one whiff on 18 swings, which isn’t too rare for him, as he only picked up one whiff with the pitch on both July 23 and in his last rough outing on April 20.

“I feel like it could’ve been better, definitely,” Plesac said of his fastball command. “I made some good pitches and I’ve got to tip my cap to them. ... I think I threw some good curveballs that I should've [thrown] more. I got some good swings and some good outs with that pitch that I could’ve utilized more and just mixed it inside a little more. They looked a little uncomfortable with that pitch as the game went on. Tip my cap to them, because they came out swinging. It is what it is. I’m gonna get my work in this week and prepare for my next start.”

Since that April start against the White Sox, Plesac had gone 5-0 with a 3.50 ERA entering Tuesday’s outing. Cleveland has been used to relying on its starting staff, and it did just that with its main three hurlers in Plesac, Aaron Civale and Shane Bieber before injuries got in the way. Heading into Tuesday, the trio had gone 23-9 with a 3.58 ERA, while all other starters combined to go 5-23 with a 6.84 ERA.

But since Plesac has returned from the injured list on July 8, he hasn’t quite found his pre-injury groove. In those five outings, he’s now 2-1 with a 5.74 ERA, while the rest of the rotation is finally starting to find its footing, especially Cal Quantrill and Eli Morgan. In that same span since Plesac returned, the other starters have a 4.46 ERA.

“Those guys have been pitching really good,” Plesac said. “They’ve been pitching better and better each start. It’s been super big for our team, super big for those guys, and I know they’ve been working week in and week out to put themselves in situations to be successful. ... I’m gonna keep working with them. We’re gonna keep working, and we’re gonna keep looking to get better every week.”

Plesac’s career-best 10-start streak without a loss came to an end on Tuesday night. And his strange final line of no walks and no strikeouts in at least five innings was the first time that's been done by an Indians pitcher since Roberto Hernandez on Aug. 15, 2012, against the Angels. And now, Plesac will look to make sure he rights the ship in his next trip to the rubber.

“So back to the drawing board tomorrow,” Plesac said. “Take it in, analyze those guys, watch how their approaches were against me, and I’m just gonna learn their lineup for another time. But this game was tough for me.”