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Masterson aims for 6-0 record as Tribe wrap set with Rays

May 12, 2011 - 2:31 PM (Sports Network) - So far he's been the master of his domain.

Cleveland Indians undefeated starter Justin Masterson aims to push his record to 6-0 when he takes the mound this afternoon in the finale of a three-game series versus the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field. Masterson is off to the best start in his career at 5-0 with a 2.11 earned run average in seven trips to the mound.

The right-hander has recorded back-to-back no-decisions after starting the season 5-0, and is coming off Friday's 2-1 loss at the LA Angels of Anaheim in which he allowed only one run and nine hits in seven innings. He struck out five batters and has fanned at least that many in three straight outings. Masterson also did not walk a batter for the first time this season.

Masterson looks to improve his career mark against Tampa Bay, as he sports a 1-4 record and a 6.00 ERA in nine career games (5 starts) in this series.

Cleveland will try to bounce back from last night's 8-2 loss in the middle test of this set and had its 14-game home winning streak stopped. Carlos Carrasco was dealt the loss for allowing four runs through the first five innings and Justin Germano gave up three runs over the next 2 2/3 innings.

"Carrasco just didn't throw enough strikes today," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "He pitched behind the count a lot. When you're facing a guy like [Tampa Bay's David] Price, four or five runs is way too many."

Michael Brantley and Matt LaPorta both drove in runs for the AL Central- leading Indians, who have alternated wins and losses over their last seven games since a seven-game winning streak and are still a solid 14-3 as the host this season. The Tribe will also host Seattle for three games on the homestand.

Tampa Bay won for the sixth time in eight tries on Wednesday and bounced back from a loss in the series opener. Price was in command for eight innings, allowing a pair of runs and five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. Price is now 5-3 on the season.

"He was really good again," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said of Price. "He pitched primarily with his fastball and he was very good."

The Rays banged out 11 hits and received home runs from Ben Zobrist and Matt Joyce. Sam Fuld went 3-for-4 with two RBI and B.J. Upton had two hits and drove in a pair of runs for Tampa Bay, which will head home after tonight's game to begin a five-game residency versus the Orioles and Yankees.

Upton is expected to begin a two-game suspension today for his inappropriate actions following a strikeout against Toronto on May 4 at Tropicana Field.

"Obviously, it's not something that you really want to happen or have to go through, but I've got to take responsibility for my actions, man," Upton said on the club's site. "It happened and it's over with. You know what, we'll deal with it the next two days, and we'll get through it. And I'll be back out there on [Saturday]."

Heading to the mound for the Rays today will be James Shields, who is 3-0 with a 0.81 earned run average in his last four starts. Shields previously was in action Friday at Baltimore, hurling 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball in a 6-2 win with five strikeouts.

Shields has allowed a total of three runs in his last four starts and pushed his 2011 record to 3-1 in seven outings with a 2.01 ERA. The right-hander hopes his impressive start to the season carries over into Thursday's matchup with Cleveland, which has owned the California native in his career. Shields is 0-4 with a 4.06 ERA in six starts against the Indians.

Tampa won seven of its nine matchups with the Indians last season.