Longoria hits HR as Kluber loses again

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Evan Longoria hit a three-run homer in the first inning and the Tampa Bay Rays handed reigning Cy Young winner Corey Kluber his fourth straight loss with a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night.

Longoria, who has been playing with a sore left wrist, hit his first home run since June 10. The Rays have won four straight and eight of nine to climb to a season-high 10 games over .500 (40-30).

Rays starter Erasmo Ramirez left the game in the fourth inning with a groin injury. Five relievers completed the victory, holding Cleveland to six hits. Xavier Cedeno (1-0) replaced Ramirez and completed the fourth.

Brad Boxberger allowed two hits and a walk to load the bases in the ninth, but struck out rookie Giovanny Urshela to end the game for his 18th save.

Kluber (3-9) allowed four runs and four hits in seven innings. Tampa Bay scored again in the third, but the right-hander didn’t give up another hit over his final four innings.

Kluber, who was 18-9 last season with a 2.44 ERA, hasn’t won since May 28. He has a 3.65 ERA this season, but the Indians have scored a total of six runs in his last four starts.

Ramirez was 6-2 going into the game and had won four consecutive starts. After Jason Kipnis led off the fourth with a single, Ramirez bent over in pain after throwing a 1-1 pitch for a ball to Francisco Lindor. Manager Kevin Cash and a trainer went to the mound and Ramirez was pulled.

Ramirez didn’t give up a run, struck out three and walked none in three-plus innings.

Kevin Kiermaier drew a leadoff walk in the first and took third on Joey Butler’s hit-and-run single to right. Longoria followed with his seventh homer of the season.

Kipnis finished 2 for 3, extending his hitting streak to 15 games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: LHP Matt Moore (Tommy John surgery) will make a rehab start today for Triple-A Durham. He made three starts for Single-A Charlotte.

Indians: C Yan Gomes returned to the lineup after not playing Friday because of a stiff neck. He was hitless in three at-bats.

UP NEXT

Rays: RHP Alex Colome lasted two innings, the shortest outing of his career, Tuesday against Washington. Tampa Bay has lost each of his last five starts since he beat Oakland on May 21.

Indians: RHP Cody Anderson will make his major league debut against the Rays. Anderson has made 13 starts at Double-Akron and Triple-A Columbus, going 4-3 with a 1.89 ERA.