Indians survive dicey ninth against Rays

Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.

Mike Aviles hit a three-run homer during a five-run seventh inning, Corey Kluber went 62/3 effective innings, and the Cleveland Indians stopped a seven-game road losing streak by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3 on Friday night.

Cleveland also got solo homers from Asdrubal Cabrera and Michael Brantley. Kluber (3-3) allowed two runs, nine hits and had nine strikeouts.

Jake Odorizzi struck out a career-high 11 and gave up five hits in five shutout innings for the Rays, who have lost six straight at home.

Brantley homered off Joel Peralta (1-3) before Yan Gomes hit an RBI single and Aviles had his three-run shot against Brandon Gomes as the Indians went ahead 6-2 in the seventh.

For the fourth straight game, the Rays put together a serious ninth-inning threat. David DeJesus had an RBI double off John Axford with two outs that made it 6-3. Ben Zobrist then walked to load the bases, ending Axford’s night.

Cody Allen entered and got a fly ball from James Loney on a 3-2 pitch for his first save.

Cabrera, coming off a four-hit game in Thursday’s 9-4 victory over Minnesota, had a leadoff homer off Brad Boxberger in the sixth that pulled the Indians within 2-1. Cabrera finished with three hits and a walk.

After Loney hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth, DeJesus put the Rays up 2-0 on a fifth-inning RBI double.

Rays shortstop Yunel Escobar left after the second inning with a bruised right thumb and is day to day.

Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon’s challenge of a double play in the first resulted in the call being overturned when a video review determined that Zobrist beat the relay throw at first.

NOTES

The game took 4 hours, 10 minutes. ... Indians 2B Jason Kipnis (strained right oblique) has been cleared to swing a bat this weekend. ... Cleveland DH Jason Giambi (strained right calf) is working out with the team and says he feels good. ... Cleveland INF Elliot Johnson accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus.