Carrasco too much again for Rays, who lose 4-1 to Indians
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays only had a little success against Carlos Carrasco, again.
Carrasco dominated Tampa Bay yet again and the Cleveland Indians beat the Rays 4-1 on Wednesday night.
"When he's locating there's not many guys that can match his stuff," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Wipeout off-speed pitches to go along with 97 (mph)."
Carrasco (1-0) came within one strike of a no-hitter here in July and held Tampa Bay to just a single and a walk through the first seven innings Wednesday. He allowed one run, four hits and had eight strikeouts during a 93-pitch outing.
Carrasco is 3-0 with a 1.48 ERA in four games, including three starts, at Tropicana Field.
"He likes pitching here," Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis said. "I hope he doesn't get any ideas of trying to come here any time soon, because he's pretty good when he pitches here."
Cleveland manager Terry Francona said Carrasco was battling some "intestinal turmoil."
"A little bit at the beginning, it was my stomach, but you have to make an adjustment," Carrasco said. "I think I might have ate something bad last night, but it's fine now."
Drew Smyly (0-2) tied a career high with 11 strikeouts in seven innings for the Rays. The left-hander gave up three runs on three hits, all in the fourth inning.
"Just about everything was working," Cash said.
Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his second save.
Jason Kipnis hit his first homer this season off Erasmo Ramirez in the eighth.
After Carrasco and Smyly went perfect through three innings, the Indians broke through in the fourth.
"I knew it was going to be a pitcher's duel," Smyly said. "Carrasco has amazing stuff."
Rajai Davis led off the inning with a double and Kipnis followed with a single. Davis scored the first run on a ground ball, and the Indians added runs with a double by Mike Napoli, Carlos Santana's sacrifice fly and a throwing error by second baseman Logan Forsythe.
Curt Casali drove in Tampa Bay's run with a double in the eighth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) felt fine one day after throwing halfway up a mound for the first time. He could return before the season ends.
NUMBERS GAME
The Rays ended their franchise record stretch of homering in 21 consecutive games. ... Casali's RBI was his first since Aug. 25 when he strained a hamstring running out a home run. The injury ended his season.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Danny Salazar, who gave up two hits in 7 2/3 innings in a 6-2 win against the Rays on June 30, starts the series finale Thursday.
Rays: RHP Chris Archer, winless in his last eight starts and 0-2 this season, will face Salazar. "The biggest thing, when you have a bad outing is bouncing back and trusting your ability, trusting your stuff," Archer said. "I know and I trust that if I fill up the strike zone, then I'll get the ultimate goal and that's a team win."