(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH -- After a rain delay that lasted just under three hours, Carlos Carrasco did not seem like himself on the hill. The Indians right hander was not throwing his usual heat, as he was marking in the low 90's on his fastball, and he was not using his curveball at all. Choi, Lowe, and Pham each homered on Carrasco, driving in a combined 5 runs. With a combination of slugging and good pitching, the Rays cruised to a 6-2 victory.
Former Astros starter Charlie Morton got the nod for the Rays today, and he was stellar. Morton pitched 6.0 innings, giving up 1 earned run on 3 hits, striking out 10 batters. Out of 105 total pitches thrown, Morton threw 52 curveballs and 44 fastballs, as the entire Indians lineup could not figure him out.
Tribe skipper Terry Francona got ejected on a strikeout call in which Jose Ramirez got hit by a pitch while pulling back a bunt attempt, this was the first ejection by Francona since the 2016 season.
Carlos Santana continues to be the lone bright spot in the Indians lineup, as he crushed his ninth homer of the season to straight-away center field. Leonys Martin chipped in an RBI on a ground ball to where the shortstop is normally located, but due to a defensive shift there was no one there to scoop up the grounder. Indians reliever Josh D Smith had his first career start tonight, and he recorded his first career out to get the tribe out a jam unscathed.
The Indians will look to split the four-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon. Cleveland will give the nod to Trevor Bauer, as he is set to square off against Rays right hander Ryne Stanek. First pitch is set for 1:10 PM ET at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.