Major League Baseball

Kluber allows late homer, Indians fall to Rays 5-1

Published Apr. 13, 2016 12:11 a.m. ET

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Even after dominating until the seventh inning Tuesday night, Cleveland Indians right-hander Corey Kluber had no room for error.

Then the Rays got to him.

Logan Forsythe hit the first of two two-run homers for Tampa Bay in the eighth inning, and the Rays beat the Indians 5-1.

''I made a bad pitch at the biggest part of the game,'' Kluber said. ''I walked a guy (Kevin Kiermaier) and then made a bad pitch. That's what it boils down to. There's not too much to read into it. I didn't execute a pitch.''

Forsythe ended Kluber's night with his shot that made it 3-1 on a full-count, two-out pitch. Evan Longoria added a two-run homer off Cody Allen later in the inning.

Matt Moore gave up one run, five hits, one walk and had five strikeouts in seven innings for the Rays.

Xavier Cedeno (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth for the Rays, who have trailed after the sixth inning in all three of their wins this season.

Kluber (0-2) allowed three runs and four hits over 7 2/3 innings. The 2014 AL Cy Young Award winner struck out six and walked two.

''He was obviously very good, but there was no wiggle room,'' manager Terry Francona said. ''For seven innings he made (a 1-0 lead) stand up. That's a hard way to pitch, but we'll take that outing.''

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on Francisco Lindor's first homer of the season.

Corey Dickerson got the Rays' second hit, a two-out double in the seventh that left fielder Jose Ramirez moved in on at first and then had go over his head. Dickerson scored to tie it at 1 on a single by Desmond Jennings.

Tampa Bay had just three baserunners through six. Longoria hit a groundball single in the first and had a third-inning walk, and Kiermaier was hit by a pitch during the sixth.

''We didn't give in to a really good pitcher,'' Rays manager Kevin Cash said. ''He pretty much had his way with us for a better part of five, six, seven innings. Then we finally got something going.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Indians: OF Michael Brantley (right shoulder surgery) started a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus. He played four innings in left field and doubled in two at-bats. Manager Terry Francona said Brantley will play every other day for a week. ... Brantley and INF Lonnie Chisenhall (left wrist) will move their rehab assignments to Double-A Akron on Thursday.

Rays: RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) advanced to throwing 20 fastballs halfway up a mound. ''I think from here on out things will start speeding up,'' said Cobb, who could return before the season ends. ... RHP Chase Whitley (Tommy John surgery) also threw 20 fastballs halfway up the mound.

MUCH BETTER CONDITIONS

After having three postponements due to inclement weather and two more starts delayed last week, the Indians took advantage of domed Tropicana Field for extra early work. ''We've had so much down time, I think guys just want to go out and get the blood flowing,'' Francona said. ... RHP Josh Tomlin, who had his first scheduled start Sunday at the Chicago White Sox postponed, threw in a simulated game. Tomlin will face New York Mets and RHP Matt Harvey on Saturday.

MOVING DAY

RHP Josh Martin, taken in the Rule 5 draft by San Diego, was returned to the Indians and will join Columbus.

UP NEXT

Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco (0-0) will be hard pressed Wednesday night to match his last start against Tampa Bay on July 1 when Joey Butler broke up a no-hit bid with a two-out single in the ninth.

Rays: LHP Drew Smyly (0-1) had his second start of the season pushed back to Wednesday night after warming up in the bullpen Saturday at Baltimore for a game that was postponed.

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