TORONTO -- Kevin Millwood isn't frustrated.
Millwood lost again despite pitching a complete game, and Scott Downs combined with three relievers on a five-hitter to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday.
"I've had the urge to break things, but right now it's to the point where it's almost funny," said Millwood, who is 7-11 despite a 3.18 ERA, third best in the AL. "There's not much I can do about it. I figure I'd save myself a few hundred bucks and just sit down and have a beer."
Cleveland, which had won eight of its previous nine, managed just an unearned run and dropped one game back of the New York Yankees and Oakland in the AL wild-card race. The Indians are a major league-best 18-7 since July 31.
Millwood pitched a six-hitter for his first complete game since Aug. 7, 2003, for Philadelphia at Colorado, allowing run-scoring singles to Frank Catalanotto and Russ Adams. But the Indians have averaged only 3.25 runs in his starts and have scored two runs or fewer in 11 of his 24 starts.
"I'm not angry by any means," Millwood said. "I know the guys are trying their best. They want to put runs up on the board, but we ran into a guy that was on today."
Third baseman Aaron Boone said they're aware of his plight.
"He's pitched so well," Boone said. "We're frustrated. He's obviously pitched a lot better than his record."
Downs (2-3) allowed a run on a throwing error by first baseman Eric Hinske. The 29-year-old left-hander, who has 1.75 ERA in his last four starts, gave up three hits, struck out six and walked two in six-plus innings.
"I'm just riding a wave right now," Downs said. "Pitching right now is fun. I'm going out there and keeping my team in the game."
Boone said he was very good.
"He changed speeds on his fastball. He had a changeup and a pretty good breaking ball and he wasn't afraid to pitch inside too," Boone said.
Jason Frasor pitched the seventh, Scott Schoeneweis got an out in the eighth and Miguel Batista finished for his 24th save in 29 chances. Cleveland had runners on first and second with two outs in the eighth, but Batista struck out Victor Martinez.
Toronto manager John Gibbons felt for Millwood.
"He's a proven winner, some years some guys just get that," Gibbons said.
Toronto (65-64) won for just the second time in nine games and avoided falling under .500 for the first time since July 19.
Cleveland's Casey Blake doubled in the third and scored on Hinske's throwing error to third. After recording an out at first on Grady Sizemore's grounder to second, Hinske tried to get Blake at third but his throw sailed into foul territory.
Hudson singled in the third, stole second and scored on Catalanotto's single. Hinske and Hudson singled in fourth before Adams singled for a 2-1 lead.
Notes
Downs has yielded three earned runs or fewer in five of his last six outings. ... Cleveland DH Travis Hafner has reached base safely in 93 of 104 games. ... Five-year-old Shaquan Cadougan, who was hit by four stray bullets during a drive-by-shooting earlier this month, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Four people were injured in the shooting.
