Rays done in by three HRs, Danny Salazar in loss to Indians
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash says he isn't frustrated by the Rays' offensive slump.
Danny Salazar pitched two-hit ball for 7 2-3 innings and the Cleveland Indians backed him with three home runs to beat the Rays 6-2 Tuesday night.
"We'll get out of this funk," Cash said after the Rays lost for seventh time in nine games. "The bats, they're going to come alive. We're in one of those ruts."
Salazar (7-3) retired his first 15 batters, the third time in the last six games that's happened to the Rays. Indians rookie Cody Anderson took a perfect game into the seventh Monday night and Toronto's Marco Estrada was perfect through the seventh last Wednesday.
"These guys are featuring very, very good stuff," Cash said.
Tampa Bay right fielder Steven Souza Jr. went 0 for 3 and is hitless in 20 at-bats, including 10 strikeouts.
"I feel a lot of the responsibilities fall on me," he said. "It's been unacceptable. I'm supposed to drive in runs and that's not happening."
Tampa Bay dropped to 21-25 at home, compared to a road mark of 21-12.
"We've got to be able to win at home, that's the bottom line," Souza said.
Jason Kipnis, Giovanny Urshela and David Murphy homered for the Indians, driving in all six runs.
Salazar walked Asdrubal Cabrera to open the sixth. After a double play, Curt Casali broke up the no-hit bid with a double.
"I was winning the game," Salazar said. "I just tried to stay calm and finish my job."
Facing the Rays for the first time since losing in the 2013 AL wild-card game, Salazar allowed one earned run and struck out two. He won for the first time in four starts.
Erasmo Ramirez (6-3) lost for the first time in six starts. It was his first outing since leaving a game June 20 due a strained right groin.
Kipnis homered with two outs in the third for Cleveland's first hit. It was Kipnis' sixth home run of the season.
Urshela's three-run homer, his second of the season, came off reliever Steve Geltz in the seventh after a hit by Carlos Santana and a walk to Brandon Moss.
Murphy added a two-run drive off Kirby Yates in the eighth.
The Rays scored twice in the eighth with the help of Cabrera's double and a throwing error on shortstop Francisco Lindor.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Indians: OF Nick Swisher (knee) ran football patterns in the outfield and the arc from first to third behind the infield dirt.
Rays: 1B James Loney (broken left middle finger) started a rehab assignment with Class A Charlotte and could return this weekend. ... Reliever Andrew Bellatti (right shoulder) and DH John Jaso also are on rehab assignments with the Florida State League club.
PROSPECTS DAY
Rays: Tampa Bay signed OF Garrett Whitley, who was selected No. 13 overall in this year's draft. He took batting practice with the team and will start his pro career with the Gulf Coast League Rays.
MOVING DAY
The Rays designated RHP Ronald Belisario for assignment and optioned Yates to Triple-A Durham after the game. The corresponding moves were not immediately announced.
UP NEXT
Indians RHP Carlos Carrasco (9-6) and Rays RHP Alex Colome (3-3) are Wednesday night's scheduled starters. Carrasco is 5-2 with a 3.74 ERA in seven road starts this season.
