Friday, May 29, 2009
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays limped out of town, hoping a homestand will help the them get back on track.
Rookie David Huff and four relievers combined to stifle the Rays and Victor Martinez drove in both runs for the Cleveland Indians in a 2-1 victory Thursday, completing a four-game sweep of the defending American League champions.
The Rays have lost five in a row overall and 17 straight in Cleveland, the longest road losing streak against one team in club history. It was the first four-game sweep for the Indians since they did it to the Rays July 10-13 at Progressive Field.
“Maybe next time we come in, we’ll have some candles and holy water,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “I have no good explanation for this.”
The Rays’ run came on Willy Aybar’s homer in the sixth, which was upheld after using video replay.
The Indians’ bullpen, which has struggled much of this season, excelled Thursday. Jensen Lewis, Matt Herges, Rafael Betancourt and Kerry Wood combined to hold Tampa Bay to one run on four hits over five innings after a 2 hour, 40 minute rain delay in the fourth inning knocked out Huff.
Herges (1-0) struck out Evan Longoria to end the seventh inning with B.J. Upton on second to preserve the slim lead.
“He’s a lot better than I am,” Herges said of Longoria. “Anytime I get him out, I’ll take it. He’s going to get me a lot more than I’ll get him.”
Asdrubal Cabrera reached on a bunt single in the third off starter Jeff Niemann (4-4). He scored on a groundout by Martinez, who singled to drive home Kelly Shoppach in the fifth for the game’s only other run.
The Indians’ bullpen did the rest. Over their last 18 innings — all against Tampa Bay — Tribe relievers have allowed one run on 13 hits. It has allowed the Indians to rally for victories from 10-0 and 5-0 deficits in the series.
“They’ve gone beyond the call of duty here of late because we’ve needed so many innings from them,” Wedge said. “They’ve been doing a very good job. They need to recognize that and feel good about how they’re performing as a unit.”
The delay prevented Huff from picking up his first major league victory after he was off to the best start of his brief career.
He entered 0-1 with a 17.55 ERA, and was blasted by the Rays for seven runs in 32‚Ñ3 innings last week in his major league debut. Huff had allowed four hits through four innings Thursday before giving way to the rain.