Streak buster: Indians handcuffed by Tampa Bay’s David Price

Photo by: Tony Dejak

AP

Photo

Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore, left, slides safely into second base in the sixth inning in a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Tuesday, May 10, 2011, in Cleveland. Sizemore jammed his right knee, not the one he had season-ending microfracture surgery on in 2010, while sliding into second base in the sixth inning of Tuesday night's 5-4 victory over Tampa Bay, the Indians' 14th straight win at home. After being checked, he stayed in the game. However, the three-time All-Star had knee soreness on Wednesday, so the Indians' medical staff decided to have him undergo an MRI.

By Paul Hoynes

Cleveland Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND

When a baseball team loses, it leaves the dugout, walks through the tunnel and into the clubhouse. When it wins, it walks on the field to celebrate, two lines forming as the players leaving the field are congratulated by the players, manager and coaches emerging from the dugout.

The Indians have been line dancing at Progressive Field since early April. The dance ended Wednesday night as David Price and the Rays stopped the Indians’ 14-game home winning streak with a 8-2 victory in front of 17,741 fans.

It was the Indians’ first loss at home since April 2.

“It felt weird to go through the tunnel instead of going on the field and shaking hands,” said manager Manny Acta. “That’s a pretty amazing streak.”

Price is the streak breaker when it comes to Progressive Field. Last year, the left-hander ended the Rays’ 18-game losing streak in Cleveland with seven good innings. He was better this time.

“To me, that’s the best pitcher we’ve seen all year,” said DH Shelley Duncan. “The two guys in Anaheim [Dan Haren and Jered Weaver] are good. Jon Lester in Boston is good. But tonight Price was the best.”

Price (5-3, 3.12) went eight innings for the victory. He had a no-hitter through four innings and a shutout through seven.

“We had a good run at home, but it had to end some point,” said Acta. “Price was overpowering. When everybody knows what’s coming and you still can’t hit it, that’s what I call overpowering. That’s how he was for the first seven innings.”

Carlos Carrasco (1-2, 5.29), making his first start since April 24, took the loss. He threw eight of his first nine pitches for balls. It was an indication of things to come.

“I was a little nervous in the first inning,” said Carrasco.

Carrasco allowed four runs on six hits in five innings. He threw only 56 percent (56 of 100) of his pitches for strikes.

“No excuses,” said Acta. “He didn’t throw enough strikes.”

The Rays took a 1-0 lead in the second, added three more runs in the fourth, another three spot in the seventh and one more in the ninth.

The Indians scored their two runs off Price in the seventh. Asdrubal Cabrera and Matt LaPorta started the inning with consecutive doubles. Michael Brantley blooped a single into left field to score LaPorta with two outs.

Price retired 12 straight before Carlos Santana ended the no-hitter with a leadoff double in the fifth. Price retired the next three batters, stranding Santana at second. He allowed two runs on five hits, struck struck out seven and threw 112 pitches, 70 for strikes.

Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore bruised his right knee — not the one he had season-ending microfracture surgery on in 2010 — while sliding into second base in the sixth inning of Tuesday night’s victory over Tampa Bay.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.