Rays fall to Indians, 5-2 - August 04, 2008

August 04, 2008
Rays fall to Indians, 5-2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Cliff Lee tied the major league lead with his 15th win and the Cleveland Indians stayed unbeaten against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays this season with a 5-2 victory on Monday night.

Lee (15-2) went seven innings, giving up two runs and eight hits. The left-hander is 9-2 in 13 road starts.

Tampa Bay's five-game winning streak ended. The Rays began the day 2 1/2 games ahead of Boston in the AL East.

David Dellucci hit his 100th career homer for the Indians, who improved to 20-36 on the road. Cleveland is 5-0 against the Rays this season, including a four-game sweep at home July 10-13.

Rafael Perez pitched the final two innings to record his second save.

Akinori Iwamura drove in both runs for Tampa Bay, which fell to 43-17 at home.

Rays left fielder Carl Crawford (sore left hamstring) and shortstop Jason Bartlett (right index finger) were out of the starting lineup. It's possible both might not start again Tuesday.

Kelly Shoppach put the Indians ahead 1-0 with an RBI double in the second. He made it 5-2 on a run-scoring in the eighth, and has eight RBIs over his last seven games.

Cleveland took a 2-0 lead on Asdrubal Cabrera's third-inning solo homer.

Lee worked out of jams in the first and second innings, leaving five runners on base and holding Tampa Bay to 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position over the stretch.

After needing just seven pitches to work a perfect third, Lee allowed a two-run, two-out single to Iwamura in the fourth that tied it at 2.

Dellucci hit a two-run shot to put Cleveland back up 4-2 in the fifth.

Tampa Bay starter Matt Garza (9-7) allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings.

The announced crowd at Tropicana Field was 17,049.

Associated Press
Posted by Times Editor at 10:32:29 PM on August 4, 2008

17,049?


You think the Rays were in last place

this is amazing! Rays must've had an off night! (sure wish WE would've caught 'em on one!)