(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH -- The Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Rays went into the 9th inning tied up at four runs a piece, before an implosion by the Cleveland bullpen. Joey Wendle hit the go-ahead RBI on a line drive single to center field. Tampa Bay first baseman Ji-Man Choi blew the game open on a 3-run no doubt home run to right center field. Wander Franco and Yandy Diaz each chipped in an RBI in the 9th to help gain an insurmountable lead. Cleveland ultimately fell short after the 9th inning rally by the Rays, losing by the final score of 10-5.
One day after acquiring Nelson Cruz from Minnesota, Tampa Bay dressed and played him in the three hole, and he made an immediate impact. Cruz jumped on a low and away pitch in the 3rd inning, sending out an opposite field blast for his first homer as a member of the Rays.
Jose Ramirez carried the tribe offense, launching a 3-run homer and roping an RBI triple. Cleveland starter Zach Plesac finished the game with a final line of 4 earned runs on 8 hits, striking out 3 while walking 2 in 6.2 innings of work.
The tribe and Rays will battle on Saturday evening for game 3 of the four game series. First pitch is set for 7:10 pm ET at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.