The Tampa Bay Rays (51-36) defeated the Cleveland Indians (42-42) 4-0 on Wednesday afternoon in the second game of a doubleheader. The win gives the Rays a doubleheader sweep over Cleveland, as well as a sweep in their three game series with the Indians.
The story of this game, though, was the fact that five Rays pitchers combined to keep the Indians without a hit through the seven inning game. Though not officially considered a no-hitter by major league baseball, the team of Collin McHugh, Josh Fleming, Diego Castillo, Matt Wisler and Pete Fairbanks combined to hold Cleveland without a hit. Fleming (7-4, 3.26) earned the win by pitching two and two thirds innings of shutout ball in which he struck out two and walked one as the first man out of the bullpen.
Taylor Walls was the star offensively, going 2-for-3 with two runs driven in. In the second inning he drove in the first run, then drove in another in the fourth. Yandy Diaz added a two-RBI hit in the fifth to give the Rays a 4-0 lead that would prove to be the final score.
The Rays are now off on Thursday - they remain at home when they begin a three game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field on Friday night. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 7:10 PM - pregame coverage begins with Jay Recher and the Inside Pitch at 6 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES