Indians go with Masterson in second test with Rays
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Justin Masterson tries to pitch the Cleveland Indians to their fourth straight win this evening when they continue a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field.
Masterson beat the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, holding them to a pair of runs (1 earned) and five hits over seven innings. He also struck out seven without walking a batter, as he improved to 5-7 to go along with a 3.92 ERA.
"The ball was moving and slicing," Masterson said. "That's what we want it to do. It was really nice."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The right-handed sinkerballer has now lasted at least six frames in each of his last 13 starts, the longest stretch by a Cleveland pitcher since Cliff Lee went 14 straight starts during the 2009 season.
Masterson has faced the Rays 11 times (7 starts) and is 1-6 against them with a 6.80 ERA.
Cleveland drew first blood in this series on Thursday, as Josh Tomlin pitched seven innings of one-run ball in the Indians' 3-1 win. Shin-Soo Choo, Travis Hafner and Michael Brantley all hit solo homers for Cleveland, which won for the fifth time in six games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tomlin (5-5) gave up two hits and struck out three with no walks to win his second straight start.
"Tomlin did a fantastic job and that's the only way you can beat those guys is by out-pitching them," said Cleveland manager Manny Acta. "His curveball was fantastic and it kept them off-balance all night."
Jose Molina drove in the only run for the Rays, who have lost their past two. Jeremy Hellickson (4-5) dropped his fifth straight decision as he was tagged for two runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts over six innings.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I thought his stuff was pretty good out there tonight," said Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon about Hellickson. "He did a good job and gave us a chance to win, we just couldn't get anything going."
Luke Scott continued to struggle and is now hitless in 39 straight at-bats, breaking Jose Cruz Jr.'s Rays record. Cruz was 0-for-37 from April 16-May 1, 2004.
Heading to the hill for the Rays tonight will be righty Alex Cobb, who is 3-5 with a 4.94 ERA. Cobb lost for the fifth time in his last six starts on Sunday against Detroit, as he allowed five runs (4 earned) and eight hits in 5 1/3 frames.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}This will be his first-ever appearance against the Tribe.
Tampa Bay won four of its six meetings with the Indians last season.