Umpire Jim Joyce makes call that propels Indians

Cleveland — Jim Joyce is on the minds of Tigers fans, again.

The Indians took advantage of a controversial bases-loaded wild pitch in their 10-7 victory over the Astros on Thursday.

A pair of runs scored on a play in the third inning that led to the ejection of Astros manager A.J. Hinch. Replays showed Cleveland’s Lonnie Chisenhall fouled off the pitch from David Paulino, but Joyce, the plate umpire and crew chief, stood by his ruling of a wild pitch and the Indians took a 4-1 lead.

Joyce told a pool reporter he didn’t see or hear the ball hit the bat, and whether Chisenhall made contact wasn’t a reviewable play.

“We did not have the ball hitting the bat,” said Joyce, who is well-known to Tigers fans for the botched call in June of 2010 that ruined a perfect game for Armando Galarraga. “Me originally, and then I went to each crew member and asked them the same thing. If any of them had it hitting the bat, I would have turned around and called a foul ball. My partners couldn’t help me on it.”

Hinch had an opposing view.

“I think everybody in the ballpark saw the play the way it happened except for the four guys on the field,” he said.

Cleveland led 2-1 when Chisenhall attempted to check his swing on a pitch in the dirt. The ball bounced away from catcher Jason Castro and rolled toward the on-deck circle near the Indians dugout.

Play was allowed to continue and all three runners — Francisco Lindor, Mike Napoli and Jose Ramirez — crossed the plate.

Hinch protested the ruling and was ejected by Joyce. After a video review, Lindor and Napoli were allowed to score and Ramirez was placed at second.

Chisenhall was unavailable for comment but Castro, who didn’t run after the ball, also disagreed with the call.

“I thought it was pretty obvious it was a foul ball,” he said. “(Joyce) just said he didn’t have the ball hitting the bat. The initial reaction is the biggest indicator, and you saw what happened. It was a pretty disappointing call for us.”

Lindor was on third base and immediately headed home when the ball rolled away.

“I heard a noise, but I don’t know if it hit the bat or hit the (catcher’s) mask,” he said.

Indians manager Terry Francona wasn’t sure initially what happened.

“We have the ability to go to replay, which they don’t,” he said. “Nobody ever wants to have a call go against them.”

Joyce explained he called time because he was discussing the play with Castro and wanted to stop the action on the field.

“I have not seen the play yet,” Joyce said. “I will be looking at it tonight, you can bank on that.”

In game interrupted by a 55-minute rain delay in the middle of the sixth, Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer — his 30th this season. Lindor had three RBIs and Abraham Almonte hit a two-run triple.

Cleveland split the four-game series, opened a six-game lead over second-place Detroit in the American League Central and finished 8-2 on its home stand.

Trevor Bauer (11-6) allowed five runs and seven hits in five innings. Cody Allen, Cleveland’s fifth reliever, struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 26th save in 29 chances and second in as many nights.

Making his first major league start, Paulino (0-1) gave up four runs and four hits in three innings.

Colby Rasmus and Yulieski Gurriel homered, and Alex Bregman had three RBIs for the Astros, who trail the Orioles by 2 1/2 games for the second AL wild card.