The Cleveland Indians had to be patient before starting their Tuesday game against the Tampa Bay Rays, as rain delayed the start of the game by an hour-and-a-half, so it’s fitting that they had to be patient winning the game, 5-4.
Rays Vs. Indians: Cleveland Walks Off For Fourteenth Straight At Home
The Indians have now won 14 straight games at Cleveland’s Progressive Field, winning in their last at-bat for the fourth straight home game, this time on a walk-off walk.
After the lengthy delay, Grady Sizemore opened the bottom half of the first with a leadoff home run, a line-hugging shot to right field to give the Indians an early lead. The solo home runs were contagious, as Matt Joyce hit a solo homer in the fourth to tie the game briefly before Michael Brantley gave the Indians a 2-1 lead with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the inning.
Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine only lasted 3-1/3 innings, walking five before getting the quick hook. Cleveland's Josh Tomlin pitched well for a no-decision, getting a textbook quality start by giving up three earned runs in six innings.
After an RBI double from Matt Joyce brought the Rays closer, the Indians stretched the lead to 4-2 in the sixth on an Asdrubal Cabrera single and a John Jaso passed ball with two outs. But the Rays chipped away, scoring single runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, with a solo homer from Evan Longoria tying the game. Come to think of it, that probably just made the Indians feel more comfortable.
In the ninth, Shin-Soo Choo walked on four straight pitches from Joel Peralta, and Carlos Santana singled Choo to third. With no outs, Joe Maddon ordered an intentional to load the bases, took Sam Fuld out of left field in order to put Elliot Johnson in as a fifth infielder, and brought in closer Kyle Farnsworth. The move worked when Orlando Cabrera chopped one to left-shortstop Reid Brignac, who came home for the force-out, but 19 infielders couldn’t have helped the Rays for the next batter. After two quick strikes to Brantley, Farnsworth threw a pitch that was just a little too high for ball one, and then tosssed three straight that weren’t especially close, with ball four a breaking pitch in the dirt. It was Farnsworth's first walk this season, and Santana skipped home for the win.
The series continues tomorrow night with David Price facing Carlos Carrasco.
For more on the Rays and Indians, please visit DRays Bay and Let’s Go Tribe.
See More:
