Indians 6, Rays 3
Asdrubal Cabrera went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and Mike Aviles hit a three-run blast as Cleveland rallied to end a seven-game road losing streak.
Aviles’ homer capped a five-run seventh inning, which included a solo shot by Michael Brantley as the Indians extended their season-high winning streak to four. Cleveland starter Corey Kluber (3-3) allowed two runs, nine hits and struck out nine over 6 2/3 innings for the win and John Axford gave up a run in the ninth before Cody Allen got the final out with the bases loaded for his first save.
David DeJesus recorded three doubles, a single and knocked in two runs for the Rays, who lost their sixth straight home game and fourth overall. Joel Peralta (1-3) retired only one batter while giving up three runs on two hits and a walk in the seventh to suffer the loss as Tampa Bay’s bullpen gave up all of Cleveland’s runs.
Cabrera led off the sixth with a homer to right off Brad Boxberger and Brantley tied the game at 2 with a blast on the second pitch of the seventh off Peralta. Yan Gomes lined an RBI single later in the seventh before Aviles reached out and pulled a split-finger fastball from Brandon Gomes into the left-field seats for a 6-2 lead.
Tampa Bay starter Jake Odorizzi allowed five hits and struck out a career-high 11 in five scoreless innings and James Loney’s sacrifice fly gave him a 1-0 lead in the fourth. DeJesus served an opposite field RBI double to left with two outs to increase the advantage in the fifth.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Cabrera is 9-for-13 - including his second and third homers of the season - in his last three contests. … Tampa Bay SS Yunel Escobar left the game in the third inning with a right thumb contusion and INF-OF Logan Forsythe had two hits after taking his spot in the lineup. … Brantley extended his hitting streak to nine games with his seventh homer while Gomes and Nick Swisher each had two hits for Indians.