Francoeur sounds off after Braves loss

A slow start was too much for Matt Wisler to overcome against Corey Kluber and the streaking Cleveland Indians.

Wisler gave up two first-inning runs and the Braves' last-gasp comeback attempt in the ninth inning fell short in their 5-3 loss to Cleveland on Tuesday night.

The Indians have won 11 straight, including the first two games of the series. It is the majors' longest streak of the season.

Wisler recovered with five scoreless innings for a strong line: six innings, six hits, two runs allowed. He set a career high with nine strikeouts.

"First-inning struggles, it's killing me again so I've kind of got to figure that out," Wisler said. "But I kind of settled in after the first inning. The team picked me up in the sixth inning, getting those two runs."

Wisler impressed Cleveland manager Terry Francona.

"I thought he was good," Francona said. "We scored early but then he really settled in. ... You can see why they like him."

Ender Inciarte's two-run single in the sixth tied the game before Carlos Santana hit a tie-breaking single in Cleveland's three-run ninth inning off closer Arodys Vizcaino (1-3).

Vizcaino walked Tyler Naquin to open the ninth and then walked Juan Uribe on four pitches. With pinch-runner Rajai Davis at first base, and one out, Santana's single to right field drove in Naquin.

Braves shortstop Erick Aybar mishandled Francisco Lindor's grounder for an error, allowing Davis to score. Jose Ramirez added a run-scoring single up the middle.

Atlanta's Jace Peterson hit a homer off Cody Allen in the ninth, giving him a nine-game hitting streak.

Freddie Freeman added a triple off the center-field wall before Cody Allen ended the game on Nick Markakis' fly ball to left field for his 15th save.

Braves interim manager Brian Snitker applauded his team's comeback attempt.

"We were kind of dead in the water again, next thing you know here they come again," Snitker said. "I'm like, holy smoke. They don't quit."

Kluber (8-7) allowed two runs on only three hits in eight innings.

CONFIRMED

A review confirmed Inciarte was out on a close play at first in the ninth after Santana bobbled a grounder before tossing to Allen at the bag.

Snitker and outfielder Jeff Francoeur, who was not playing, came out of the dugout to argue. Bench coach Terry Pendleton pulled Francoeur back to the dugout.

"I felt like I beat the throw," Inciarte said. "He didn't even have the ball. I don't know what they're doing in New York. I don't know what the deal is."

LAYNE UPDATE

Umpire Jerry Layne, who left Monday night's game in the eighth inning after he was hit by a foul tip from Markakis behind the plate, was at Turner Field on Tuesday but was held out of the game. He was staggered when the foul tip hit his jaw beyond the area covered by his mask. It was not known if Layne will work Wednesday night's game.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Indians: OF Michael Brantley, on the 15-day DL with right biceps tendinitis, has been taking swings for two straight days "and by all accounts really did well," Francona said. Brantley, who had surgery on his right shoulder in November, landed on the DL for the second time this season on May 14.

Braves: RHP John Gant was placed on the 15-day DL with a left oblique strain which forced him out of Monday night's start. "It's going to be a while," Snitker said. ... RHP Mike Foltynewicz (right elbow soreness) will make what is expected to be his final rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

UP NEXT

Indians: RHP Danny Salazar (9-3, 2.40) will bring the AL's second-lowest ERA into what will probably be the Indians' final game at Turner Field on Wednesday night. He lost to the Braves on Aug. 27, 2013 in his fifth major league start.

Braves: RHP Joel De La Cruz will be called up from Triple-A Gwinnett for his major league debut. De La Cruz is 1-3 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 appearances with Gwinnett, and his ERA is 3.38 in five starts.