Rays at Indians
The Cleveland Indians scratched across two runs in the eighth inning and held on to avoid their fifth straight loss last time out, and look to start moving in a positive direction again when they host the Tampa Bay Rays for the third of a four-game set Saturday. Francisco Lindor singled and scored the go-ahead run and the bullpen recorded four scoreless innings as Cleveland earned a 3-1 victory to even the series Friday.
Jordan Luplow homered for the fourth time in eight games to tie the game while teammate Jason Kipnis reached base for the 19th straight game - one from tying his career-best mark - for the Indians, who gave up 25 runs during their four-game losing streak. Carlos Carrasco looks to help Cleveland post back-to-back wins when he takes the mound Saturday against veteran Charlie Morton, who has yet to lose this season and frustrated the Indians in 2018 but was not sharp in his last outing. The Rays were 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 on base in Friday’s loss - dropping to 16-8 on the road - after scoring 15 runs to win their previous two contests. Tommy Pham extended his hitting streak to 10 games (12-for-40) and Avisail Garcia knocked in the first run of the game, giving him five RBIs in the past three contests, for Tampa Bay on Friday.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Charlie Morton (4-0, 2.65 ERA) vs. Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (4-4, 4.30)
Morton struggled last time out against the New York Yankees while giving up five runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks over a season-low four innings without factoring in the decision. The 35-year-old New Jersey native had yielded two or fewer runs in eight of his previous nine starts and boasts 67 strikeouts across 54 1/3 innings overall. Kipnis has homered versus Morton, who was 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts against the Indians last year.
Carrasco suffered the loss on Monday against Oakland when he permitted three runs over five innings after tossing 12 scoreless innings versus the Chicago White Sox in two straight wins. The 32-year-old Venezuela native owns 66 strikeouts and just nine walks across 52 1/3 innings this season, but has served up 10 homers in 10 outings. Pham is 3-for-6 with a triple against Carrasco, who was 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in two games versus Tampa Bay in 2018.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland 1B Carlos Santana has worked at least one walk in 10 straight games, the longest such streak of his career.
2. Tampa Bay C Travis d’Arnaud was 2-for-4 in Friday’s contests after going 1-for-21 since being acquired.
3. Indians manager Terry Francona moved past Al Lopez for fourth in franchise history with his 571st victory.