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May 26, 2009 - 5:24 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Tampa Bay (23-23) at Cleveland (17-28), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon had a nice start to the week with the announcement of his three-year contract extension. That turned out to be the only good news of the day for the Rays.

After losing one of their best hitters for the season and suffering the biggest collapse in franchise history, the Rays try to snap a 14-game losing streak in Cleveland on Tuesday when they continue a four-game series against the Indians.

Tampa Bay (23-24), which began the week having won seven of 10, announced Monday that second baseman Akinori Iwamura will miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his left knee.

Iwamura was hitting .310 with 16 RBIs and eight stolen bases in nine attempts. He was injured trying to turn a double play Sunday and had to be carted off the field.

"It's a tough loss," Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. "Aki brings a lot to the team offensively, defensively and off the field.

"We'll have to sort through things and forge ahead."

The Rays seemed to be doing fine without him Monday, taking a 10-0 lead in the fourth inning at Cleveland (18-28) in the opener of this series. However, their bats went quiet after that and Tampa Bay gave up seven runs in the ninth to lose 11-10 to a team that has the worst record in the AL.

Jason Isringhausen, who came off the disabled list last week and has been given the closer's role with Troy Percival on the DL, was charged with a blown save and the loss after giving up a two-out, two-run single to Victor Martinez.

Isringhausen failed to record an out in his appearance as he walked three, including one with the bases loaded.

"The walks are unacceptable," Isringhausen said. "I'd rather give up home runs than walk guys."

It was an ugly day that started on a good note for Maddon, who signed a three-year contract extension through 2012 after leading the franchise to last year's World Series.

Monday's victory was Cleveland's fourth in six games. Ryan Garko had three hits and drove in five runs while Jeremy Sowers got his first win in his first relief appearance after 51 career starts.

"When you do something like this, it is special," manager Eric Wedge said.

Cleveland has won 14 straight at home over Tampa Bay since a 1-0 loss Sept. 29, 2005.

The Indians look to extend that streak when they hand the ball to Carl Pavano (4-4, 6.10 ERA), who will take the mound for his 10th start of the season, surpassing his total for the previous two years combined.

Pavano has won four of his last five starts. He allowed three runs and six hits over six innings of an 8-3 victory over Kansas City on Thursday.

Pavano is 4-3 with a 4.04 ERA in nine starts against the Rays. He allowed three runs and six hits over five innings of a 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay on May 16.

Matt Garza (4-2, 3.41) also started that game, allowing two runs and five hits over six innings to earn the victory, and now squares off against Pavano again. Garza had been 0-3 with a 6.12 ERA in his previous five starts versus Cleveland.

The right-hander is 3-0 with a 2.29 ERA in his last five starts. He did not get a decision Thursday as he allowed two runs and struck out eight over 6 2-3 innings of a 6-5 win over Oakland.