Guardians 7 - 1 Rays
Final
  for this game

Rays host Indians seeking to get on track

Jun 29, 2015 - 2:46 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Tampa Bay Rays are still in a virtual tie for first place in the AL East, but haven't been playing like contenders lately.

The Rays are percentage points behind the Baltimore Orioles in the division and will start a four-game series Monday versus the Cleveland Indians.

Tampa Bay has lost five of its last seven games and suffered a 5-3 setback on Sunday to the Boston Red Sox in the rubber match of a three-game set from Tropicana Field. Chris Archer struggled on the hill and gave up three homers and five runs in six innings.

Archer struck out 10 batters and walked three.

"I thought Arch was really good. Six innings, 10 punchouts, five hits," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "The home run just kind of beat us up a little bit."

Grady Sizemore, signed to a minor league deal by Tampa Bay on June 15, had his contract selected from Single-A Charlotte prior to the game and went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Asdrubal Cabrera also had three hits and knocked in two runs.

Nathan Karns draws the start for the Rays and is 4-3 with a 3.28 ERA through 15 starts. Karns threw six scoreless innings of three-hit ball in a 1-0 loss to Toronto on Wednesday and did not figure into the decision. He defeated Cleveland on June 19 in a 4-1 victory, charged with just one run in 5 1/3 innings of work. It was his first appearance against the Tribe.

Karns has allowed just two runs in his last three starts.

The Indians were shut out in both games of Sunday's doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. They lost the opener 4-0 and were handed an 8-0 loss in the nightcap.

Toru Murata made his big league debut and was knocked around for five runs (3 earned) in 3 1/3 innings. He allowed two homers.

David Murphy highlighted the Cleveland offense with four hits.

"Today was not a pretty day for us," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "I don't see guys grinding the at-bat. We're not doing the things we're capable of doing."

Francona's frustration boiled over and he was ejected for arguing a called strike three in the top of the ninth inning.

Cleveland was swept in three games at Camden Yards and has lost seven of its last nine games.

Cody Anderson will make his second career start for the Indians Monday and did not record a decision in his debut last Sunday against the Rays at Progressive Field. Anderson threw 7 2/3 shutout innings and scattered six hits in the 1-0 win for a no-decision. The right-hander struck out four and walked one.

The Rays won two of three games against the Indians from June 19-21.






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