Indians 6, Rays 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays' struggles continued Tuesday night, with Cleveland starter Danny Salazar taking a perfect game into the sixth on the way to an easy 6-2 win for the Indians at Tropicana Field.
Cleveland (35-41) got a combined two-hitter on the mound for the second night in a row and late home runs from rookie third baseman Giovanny Urshela and designated hitter David Murphy, while the Rays (42-37) have now dropped seven of nine games.
The Rays, who didn't have a baserunner until the seventh inning Monday and the eighth on Wednesday, ended a perfect game bid Tuesday with a walk to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera in the sixth. After a double play, the Rays got their first hit on a double by catcher Curt Casali, putting the tying run in scoring position, but center fielder Kevin Kiermaier popped out to end the inning.
Tampa Bay's bullpen, which gave up five runs in the final two innings Monday, let a close game get away in the seventh, as reliever Steve Geltz gave up a single and a walk, then a three-run home run by Urshela, his second of the year. Reliever Kirby Yates gave up a double to left fielder Michael Brantley in the eighth, then a two-run home run by Murphy, his sixth.
The Rays ended the shutout in the eighth on an RBI double by Cabrera, their second hit of the night, and he scored on a throwing error by Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor.
Rays starter Erasmo Ramirez gave up two hits in 5 2/3 innings, and Geltz gave up three in the seventh alone.
For the second night in a row, the Rays struggled to get so much as a baserunner against strong Indians pitching. The day after Cody Anderson took a perfect game into the seventh inning, Salazar retired the first 15 Rays in order. He gave up a walk leading off the sixth. After a ground-ball double play, catcher Curt Casali doubled for Tampa Bay's first hit.
Ramirez held the Indians to one hit and one run in the first five innings, a third-inning solo home run by second baseman Jason Kapnis, his sixth of the year.
Tampa Bay came into the night having scored one or zero runs three times in its previous eight games, this after doing so just twice in the previous 21 games.
NOTES: The Rays signed their first-round draft pick, OF Garrett Whitley of Niskayuna (N.Y.) High. Whitley got to meet current players before Tuesday's game and took part in batting practice with the team. He will report to Port Charlotte, Fla., to the Rays' rookie-league affiliate in the Gulf Coast League. ... The Rays had three players suited up for high Class A Charlotte on rehab assignments. RHP Andrew Bellatti (shoulder) threw two innings as he recovers from a shoulder injury, with 1B James Loney (finger) and DH John Jaso (wrist) also playing. Loney is the closest to returning and could rejoin the team by the weekend. ... The United Church of Christ brought petitions to the Indians' offices, asking for the team to change its nickname and drop the Chief Wahoo logo.