Longoria homers to lead Rays past Indians

Evan Longoria's sore left wrist looked just fine Saturday night.

Longoria hit a three-run homer in the first inning off reigning Cy Young winner Corey Kluber and led the Tampa Bay Rays to their fourth straight win, a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

Not only did the Rays win for the eighth time in nine games, they improved to a season-high 10 games over .500 (40-30). Tampa Bay also sent Kluber (3-9) to his fourth straight loss.

Longoria, who hit his first home run since June 10, acknowledged that the wrist has prevented him from taking extra hitting practice.

''I always say we all feel this stuff,'' he said. ''It's taken me out of my routine a little bit, but once I get into the game, I feel OK. I felt good tonight.''

Rays starter Erasmo Ramirez left in the fourth inning with a groin injury. Five relievers completed the victory, holding Cleveland to six hits. Xavier Cedeno (1-0) replaced Ramirez and completed the fourth.

Brad Boxberger allowed two hits and a walk to load the bases in the ninth, but struck out rookie Giovanny Urshela to end the game for his 18th save.

Rays manager Kevin Cash knows Longoria is hurting, but is impressed with how the three-time All-Star stays in the lineup.

''It's huge,'' Cash said. ''Even when he's not 100 percent, he's one of our best. Not to say it's not bothering him. It's definitely affecting him.''

Kevin Kiermaier drew a leadoff walk in the first and took third on Joey Butler's hit-and-run single to right. Longoria followed with his seventh homer of the season.

''Obviously a leadoff walk's no good,'' Kluber said. ''Just didn't really execute the pitch to Longoria. We were trying to go fastball in and it just kind of stayed over the middle.''

Kluber allowed four runs and four hits in seven innings. Tampa Bay scored again in the third, but the right-hander didn't give up another hit over his final four innings.

Kluber, who was 18-9 last season with a 2.44 ERA, hasn't won since May 28. He has a 3.65 ERA this season, but the Indians have scored a total of six runs in his last four starts.

Ramirez was 6-2 going into the game and had won four consecutive starts.

After Jason Kipnis led off the fourth with a single, Ramirez bent over in pain after throwing a 1-1 pitch for a ball to Francisco Lindor. Cash and a trainer went to the mound and Ramirez was pulled.

Ramirez didn't give up a run, struck out three and walked none in three-plus innings.

''We don't quite know the severity of it,'' Cash said. ''So far, we're hearing good things that maybe we caught it early enough so we'll see the next couple of days how he responds to treatment.''

Kipnis finished 2 for 3, extending his hitting streak to 15 games.

STRONG WORK

Tampa Bay's bullpen leads the majors with 238 2/3 innings pitched. Right-hander Steve Geltz struck out two in the seventh Saturday and has retired 25 consecutive batters. The bullpen has allowed one run in 20 2/3 innings during the winning streak.

''It's amazing what those guys have done thus far in the season,'' Cash said, ''and tonight is another perfect example.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays: LHP Matt Moore (Tommy John surgery) will make a rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Durham. He made three starts for Single-A Charlotte.

Indians: C Yan Gomes returned to the lineup after not playing Friday because of a stiff neck. He was hitless in three at-bats.

UP NEXT

Rays: RHP Alex Colome lasted two innings, the shortest outing of his career, Tuesday against Washington. Tampa Bay has lost each of his last five starts since he beat Oakland on May 21.

Indians: RHP Cody Anderson will make his major league debut against the Rays. Anderson has made 13 starts at Double-Akron and Triple-A Columbus, going 4-3 with a 1.89 ERA.