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Indians hope to end losing skid in opener against Rays

Jul 10, 2008 - 11:09 AM Tampa Bay (55-35) at Cleveland (37-53), 7:05 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The plummeting Cleveland Indians will try to avoid losing 11 consecutive games for the first time in more than 77 years on Thursday when they open a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Cleveland suffered its 10th straight loss Wednesday, dropping an 8-6 bout to the Detroit Tigers. In finishing a nightmare 0-8 road trip, the Indians blew a 6-0 lead.

Aaron Laffey (4-5, 3.49) will try to stop the bleeding as he faces the American League East leaders.

Laffey recorded a no-decision on Saturday despite surrendering four runs, five hits and a career-high four walks in five innings against the Minnesota Twins, who went on to a 9-6 win.

The Rays will send Andy Sonnanstine (10-3, 4.31) to the mound with hopes of ending a three-game losing streak.

In the past three starts, the righthander has allowed just three runs in 19 innings.

Sonnanstine hasn't lost since May 27, when he faced the heavy-hitting Texas Rangers and was tagged for seven runs (two earned) and 10 hits in five innings.

Evan Longoria continues to swing a hot bat, recording a hit in seven of the last eight games. He batted .300 with eight homers and 19 RBI in June and is sitting on a .407 (11-for-27) mark this month.