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Crazy series comes to a close in Cleveland

Jun 2, 2013 - 1:22 PM (Sports Network) - In what has been a crazy weekend of baseball at Progressive Field, the Cleveland Indians and the Tampa Bay Rays will wrap up a three-game set on Sunday.

On Friday night three separate rain delays halted play for nearly five hours between these two clubs. After the game finally got back under way the Rays were able to roll to a 9-2 victory.

Then just hours after that marathon ended, the Indians had the upper hand as Ubaldo Jimenez pitched a gem, going eight innings while striking out seven and allowing just five base runners. Jason Giambi and Asdrubal Cabrera each hit home runs in the contest and combined for all five RBI for the Indians, who have won three of their last four games.

The Rays had a six-game winning streak stopped, as they managed just four hits with the top five batters in the order going a combined 0-for-18 with four strikeouts. Chris Archer had a rough time in his 2013 debut with the MLB club, as he took the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits in four innings of work.

The Rays had a six-game winning streak put to an end with the loss.

Stepping to the mound for the Rays on Sunday will be Jeremy Hellickson.

Hellickson has not been able to pitch to his normal level of success this year as his 5.61 ERA is far above is career numbers (3.44). In terms of wins and losses, Hellickson has split his four decisions while making 11 total starts.

It was a regression for Hellickson in his last start as he allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings of work on Thursday after pitching eight innings of two-run ball in his previous start. Hellickson has allowed at least five runs in three of his last four starts and five of 11 starts overall.

In his three career starts against the Tribe, Hellickson has been solid with a 2.37 ERA and a split of the two decisions he has been a factor in.

Opposing Hellickson in Sunday's rubber match will be Zach McAllister, who will be trying to earn his fifth win of the season.

McAllister has been pretty steady for the Indians this season. The 25 year-old right-hander owns a 4-4 record and an ERA of 3.08 in 10 starts on the campaign while striking out 45 batters in 61 1/3 innings.

In his most recent start McAllister labored through 5 1/3 innings of work by allowing 10 hits and three runs as he took his fourth loss of the season. McAllister did have six strikeouts in the game which marked just the third time he has reached that mark this season.

In his first start of the season McAllister was handed a loss against these same Rays as he allowed four runs, two earned, over six innings of work in a 4-0 setback for the Indians. McAllister is now 1-1 with a 1.53 ERA in three career starts against the Rays.

This series marks the last between these two clubs this season. Last year they split a total of eight meetings. Tampa Bay leads this season's series by a 3-2 margin after taking two of three at home from April 5-7.