Indians overcome 10-run deficit to beat Rays 11-10

[May 26, 2009]  CLEVELAND (AP) -- Victor Martinez lined a two-out, two-run single into center field, capping a seven-run ninth inning, and the Cleveland Indians rallied to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 11-10 on Monday night after trailing by 10 runs in the fourth.

The hit off Jason Isringhausen (0-1) snapped an 0-for-18 streak by Martinez and ruined the much-awaited season debut of Tampa Bay starter David Price. The left-hander was staked to a 10-0 lead but ran his pitch count up and lasted only 3 1-3 innings.

The Indians became the first team to make up a 10-run deficit and win since the Texas Rangers rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 16-15 on May 8, 2004, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Ryan Garko hit a two-run homer off Price in the fourth to start Cleveland's comeback. He added a three-run shot in the ninth off Grant Balfour for his second career multihomer game.

Jeremy Sowers (1-2) pitched five scoreless innings to get the win in his first relief appearance after 51 career starts.

The loss was Tampa Bay's 14th in a row in Cleveland. The Rays have not won a road game against the Indians since a 1-0 victory on Sept. 28, 2005.

The teams combined to use 11 pitchers, who issued a total of 19 walks -- 10 by the Rays.

Isringhausen walked the first three men he faced, forcing in one run to make it 10-8. Martinez then lined a 3-2 pitch to center and was mobbed by teammates in Cleveland's biggest win of a disappointing season.

The Indians still have the worst record in the AL at 18-28 and are just 8-11 at home.

Price struggled with his command, walking five.

Indians starter Fausto Carmona was even wilder. The right-hander unraveled in the second inning, walking the first four men he faced on 20 pitches and giving up five runs while registering only one out.

Gabe Gross hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs for the Rays.

Price made an immediate impact, striking out the side in the first after Jamey Carroll drew a leadoff walk and went to third on a bloop double by Grady Sizemore.

Price couldn't complete the five innings required of a starter to earn a win. The left-hander gave up two runs and four hits, striking out six. He threw 100 pitches -- 57 for strikes.

Price was recalled from Triple-A Durham, where he was 1-4 with a 3.93 ERA in eight starts. He started in place of Scott Kazmir, who went on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained right quadriceps.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft out of Vanderbilt, Price was 12-1 with a 2.30 ERA in the minors a year ago before being called up Sept. 13. He posted a 1.93 ERA in five appearances and helped the Rays advance to the World Series. He had a 1.59 ERA in five postseason relief outings.

Monday night, the Rays twice batted around -- in their five-run second and three-run fourth.

In the second, Gross drew a bases-loaded walk and Reid Brignac had a two-run single to make it 3-0. B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford followed with RBI singles.

Gross hit a two-run homer off Jensen Lewis in the third to make it 7-0.

Pena had an RBI single, Ben Zobrist doubled home a run and Dioner Navarro was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded by Rich Rundles to give Tampa Bay a 10-0 lead in the fourth.

Carmona gave up five runs and three hits with five walks in 1 1-3 innings. He has walked 35 and struck out 33 in 54 2-3 innings this season.

Notes: Tampa Bay gave manager Joe Maddon got a three-year contract extension. ... Rays INF Akinori Iwamura will have surgery for a torn left ACL and is out for the season. ... The Rays put LHP Brian Shouse on the 15-day DL with a strained left elbow and recalled LHP Randy Choate from Durham. ... Cleveland RHP Anthony Reyes will seek a second opinion after an MRI showed an inflamed ulnar nerve in his right elbow. Trainer Lonnie Soloff said surgery would shelve Reyes for the season. ... Carmona threw only 29 of 60 pitches for strikes. ... Rays SS Jason Bartlett, hitting .431 with 19 RBIs in his last 16 games, did not play. Bartlett sprained his left ankle Sunday, but Maddon doesn't think the injury is too serious.

[Associated Press]

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