Indians snap 10-game slide with 13-2 win over Rays

[July 11, 2008]  CLEVELAND (AP) -- Ben Francisco drove in a career-high four runs Thursday night to help the Cleveland Indians snap a 10-game losing streak with a 13-2 victory over Tampa Bay that extended the Rays' skid to four.

Cleveland last dropped 10 in a row in 1979 and avoided its longest streak in 77 years by hitting four home runs to overcome a 2-0 deficit. The last time the Indians lost 11 straight was 1931, on the way to a team-record 12 consecutive losses.

Francisco and David Dellucci each hit two-run homers in a five-run fifth against Andy Sonnanstine (10-4). Casey Blake hit a solo shot in a seven-run eighth off Gary Glover.

Aaron Laffey (5-5) earned Cleveland's first win since recently traded CC Sabathia shut out the Cincinnati Reds 6-0 on June 27. Laffey allowed two runs and four hits over six innings, winning for the first time in five starts since June 12.

Tampa Bay came in with baseball's best record (55-35), but lost for the 10th straight time in Cleveland. Tampa Bay last won at the Indians' home on Sept. 29, 2005, when Lou Piniella was its manager. The Rays' 26-56 record overall against Cleveland is their worst against any opponent.

Kelly Shoppach got Cleveland going by poking a one-out single to right in the fifth. Dellucci, in a 7-for-47 (.149) slump, followed by hitting his seventh homer -- and first since June 4.

Andy Marte then singled, went to third on a single by Grady Sizemore and scored on a fielder's choice grounder by Jamey Carroll to put Cleveland ahead. Francisco followed with his eighth homer.

Shin-Soo Choo led off the sixth with his third homer and Blake connected for his ninth in the eighth to make it 7-2. Francisco and Blake each had two-run singles later in the inning.

The Rays took a 2-0 lead in the third. Willy Aybar hit a leadoff single and Jonny Gomes drove his seventh homer of the season deep into the left-field bleachers. Gomes was in a 1-for-24 slump, with the only hit a pinch homer June 28 at Pittsburgh.

Sonnanstine gave up nine hits and six runs over 5 1-3 innings. He had gone 4-0 and the Rays were 7-0 in his previous seven starts since May 27.

The Rays have hit only .182 (25-for-137) during their losing streak, which ties their longest of the season. They lost four in a row April 6-9.

Notes: The Rays are trying to be the fourth team to be in first place at the All-Star break one year after having the majors' worst record, joining the 1989 Orioles and 2001 Cubs and Phillies. ... The Indians claimed RHP Bryan Bullington, the No. 1 pick in the 2002 amateur draft, on waivers from the Pittsburgh and sold Triple-A INF Ryan Mulhern and RHP Dan Reichert to the Pirates. ... Bullington was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo. ... The Indians signed 2B Cord Phelps, their third-round pick in last month's draft. ... Rays manager Joe Maddon said RHP Troy Percival (strained left hamstring) wants to throw off the mound before the All-Star break. The closer could be activated July 18.

[Associated Press]

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