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Brignac, Shields help Rays beat Indians

May 12, 2011 - 9:36 PM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Reid Brignac had a two-run double to help back seven solid innings from James Shields, as the Tampa Bay Rays earned a 7-4 win over the Indians in the rubber match of a three-game set at Progressive Field.

Evan Longoria and Sam Fuld also knocked in two runs for the Rays, who have won seven of their last nine.

Shields (4-1) yielded two runs on seven hits with one walk and seven strikeouts, and improved to 1-4 in seven career starts against the Indians. He has now allowed a total of five runs in his last five starts.

"This is something Shields has done for a long time," Rays manager Joe Maddon said about the pitcher's two pickoffs. "He looks for those moments. He knows he can get an out that way."

Asdrubal Cabrera hit a solo homer and tripled for Cleveland, which dropped its second straight at home after winning the previous 14 at Progressive Field. The Tribe have lost five of eight overall. Orlando Cabrera had two doubles and an RBI in defeat.

Justin Masterson (5-1) was roughed up for eight hits, five runs and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out six.

"Masterson was behind in the count most of the day and really struggled with his command, especially against left-handers," Indians manager Manny Acta said.

Tampa Bay put four runs up in the second to open the scoring. With the bases loaded and one out, Brignac brought in a pair with a double down the left-field line, and Fuld's two-run single to center made it 4-0.

The Indians had men on base in the home second, third and fourth, but were unable to score and the Rays tacked on another in the sixth.

With runners on first and third, and one away, Elliot Johnson's bunt single plated Matt Joyce. Then later in the inning with the bases full and two outs, Masterson was lifted in favor of Chad Durbin, who retired Fuld to prevent further damage.

A homer by Asdrubal Cabrera leading off the sixth and an RBI double from Orlando Cabrera with two away, got the Tribe to within 5-2.

Asdrubal Cabrera tripled high off the right-field wall in the eighth and scored on a groundout by Shin-Soo Choo, but Longoria's two-run double in the top of the ninth made it 7-3.

Kyle Farnsworth came on for the bottom half and gave up a one-out bloop RBI single to Shelley Duncan, but retired the last two hitters to end the game.

Game Notes

Rays outfielder B.J. Upton began his two-game suspension on Thursday for his actions toward home plate umpire Chad Fairchild on May 5 versus Toronto. He will also sit out Friday's game at Baltimore and will return to the lineup on Saturday...Cleveland outfielder Grady Sizemore did not start for the second straight game due to a bruised right knee...Tampa Bay won seven of its nine matchups with the Indians last season...Masterson fell to 1-5 in 10 career games -- six starts -- versus Tampa Bay.