Cleveland Indians Win Again, Top Rays 7-4

The Cleveland Indians win their fourth straight as they beat the Tampa Bay Rays in comeback fashion by a score of 7-4 Monday night. It was the ninth straight home victory for the Indians as they moved a 39-30 on the season and a full game ahead of the Kansas City Royals in the division. The Rays meanwhile dropped to 31-37 on the season.

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Indians’ starter Josh Tomlin had a solid night despite allowing four runs. The defense once again was a thorn in the Tribe’s side, costing Tomlin two runs. He finished the night going seven innings allowing four runs (three earned) on just five hits. He walked none and struck out three. The Rays tagged him for two runs in the top of the first thanks to a fielding error by Jason Kipnis that allowed Brad Miller to reach before Evan Longoria launched his 18th home run of the season to make it 2-0 Tampa Bay. The Rays would add a third run in the top of the 5th inning after right fielder Michael Martinez misplayed a deep fly ball off the bat of Desmond Jennings for a triple. Jennings would score one batter later on an RBI groundout by Taylor Motter.

The Rays added their fourth and final run of the night on a solo home run off the bat of Brad Miller in the top of the 6th inning. It was his ninth of the season and came off the first pitch Tomlin threw in the inning. The Indians bullpen duo of Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen were able to keep the Rays off the board in the 8th and 9th, inning respectively. Shaw worked a perfect 8th inning striking out the side in route to his first win of the season (1-3) while Allen worked a 1-2-3 9th inning for his 14th save of the year.

The Indians offense started off slowly versus lefty Drew Smyly but finished the night scoring seven runs on 11 hits, their third game in a row recording double-digit hits. After going scoreless the first three innings the Indians scored at least one run in each of the final five innings. The scoring started in the bottom of the 4th inning on an RBI groundout by Carlos Santana scored Francisco Lindor making it 2-1 Tampa Bay. The Indians scored again in the 5th on an RBI single by Jason Kipnis that scored Yan Gomes, who had himself a nice day going 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored. Down 4-2, the Indians moved back within a run in the 6th inning on a solo home run by Carlos Santana, his 15th on the year. It was just Santana’s second home run off a lefty and tied him with Mike Napoli for the team lead on the season.

The Indians would tie the game at four in the bottom of the 7th inning on a sacrifice fly by Rajai Davis, scoring Gomes who lead off the inning with a double. The Indians would take the lead in the bottom of the 8th inning on a solo home run by Lindor on the first pitch of the inning against Ray’s reliever Erasmo Ramirez making it 5-4 Indians. It was Lindor’s eighth home run of the season. The Indians added a pair of insurance runs on a Juan Uribe two-run home run later in the inning, his fifth of the year and third in the last three games, making it 7-4 Cleveland. Ramirez would take the loss, following to 7-5 on the season. Former Indians’ pitching prospect Tyler Sturdevant would come in to get the final out of the 8th inning but the damage was done.

Next: Indians-Rays Series Preview

The Indians and Rays will go back at it tomorrow night with Corey Kluber (6-7, 4.23 ERA) set to take on Rays’ rookie Ian Snell (0-1, 2.16). With a victory the Indians will secure the season series win over the Rays, having already taken three of the six meetings between the two clubs this year. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm.