CLEVELAND _ The Indians' offensive attack was nowhere to be found until the bottom of the ninth, when a five-run game nearly turned on its head and the tying run came to the plate.
But the Tampa Bay Rays withstood the charge to win their second game in the three-game series 6-4 Sunday at Progressive Field.
The Indians entered the ninth trailing 6-1. With two runners on base, Yandy Diaz singled off Rays reliever Hunter Wood to make it 6-2. After Jose Alvarado relieved Wood, Melky Cabrera lined a two-run double to left field to bring up Jason Kipnis with two outs. Out of seemingly nowhere, the Indians were within striking distance.
But, they came up just short. Alvarado struck out Kipnis _ who had a pinch-hit home run in the ninth on Saturday _ to end the game and leave the Indians' rally without the hopeful payoff.
The Indians (77-59) totaled only two hits in the first six innings and didn't score until they were trailing 6-0. Rays reliever Diego Castillo pitched only the first inning, Ryan Yarbrough (13-5) tossed five innings, Adam Kolarek was on the mound for the seventh and eighth, all the while stifling the Indians lineup.
Jose Ramirez knocked in the only Indians' run of the day before the ninth-inning rally with an RBI single in the seventh to score Michael Brantley, who doubled.
Indians starter Carlos Carrasco (16-8) allowed five earned runs on nine hits and two walks to go with nine strikeouts.
Former Indians prospect Joey Wendle turned in a terrific day for the Rays (73-63). Wendle was drafted by the Indians in 2012 before being traded to the Oakland A's in 2014 in exchange for Brandon Moss. Wendle made a couple of tremendous defensive plays at third base, including a diving stop down the line that robbed Francisco Lindor of a hit. He also went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
Catcher Eric Haase, called up as rosters expanded, made his major-league debut in the eighth. He also made his first appearance at the plate, fouling off several pitchers before striking out.
