The Tampa Bay Rays dropped the opening game of their four-game series in Cleveland on Thursday night, 3-1. The Indians' soft-tossing starting pitcher, Josh Tomlin, gave up just two hits to the Rays lineup in seven innings of work. Will Rhymes tripled in the top of the fifth and was knocked in on a groundout by Jose Molina. But that's the only damage Joe Maddon's lineup could muster against Tomlin.
Jeremy Hellickson was pretty impressive countering Tomlin, giving up just two solo shots to the Tribe. Hellickson walked four in six innings but gave up just five hits and two runs. Shin-Soo Choo led off the game with a blast to right and Michael Brantley followed that up an inning later with a pulled homer to right center. With the Indians lead at just one, Travis Hafner added some insurance in the bottom of the eighth with a rocket of Jake McGee.
Alex Cobb will try to even the series on Friday night against Justin Masterson.
Read more about the Rays at DRaysBay. For more in-depth coverage on the other side, visit Indians blog Let's Go Tribe. Go to Baseball Nation for additional news and notes around the league.