ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (AP) ― Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said Matt Moore showed some growth in his wild outing. More importantly, it ended in a Rays victory.
Moore won despite control issues, Carlos Pena homered and the Rays beat the Cleveland Indians 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Moore (6-6) allowed two runs and three hits, but walked five in five-plus innings. The rookie left-hander was coming off a five-walk ― in 4 2/3 innings ― loss at Cleveland on July 7.
“Matty was not really sharp with his fastball command,” Maddon said. “Breaking ball was kind of a moot point; it was pretty much getting outs with his fastball when he could.”
Pena hit a two-run homer and Luke Scott had an RBI triple off Josh Tomlin (5-6) as the Rays took a 3-0 first-inning lead.
Tomlin gave up four runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.
“It was tough putting guys in a hole like that,” Tomlin said. “I’ve got to do a better job of limiting the damage, especially the first inning.”
Moore was pulled after giving up a leadoff walk in the sixth to Carlos Santana. Wade Davis entered and got three quick outs, including Shelley Duncan’s double play.
“I wasn’t going the distance I needed to go tonight, but pitching out of jams like that does take a lot out (of you),” Moore said.
Davis and Joel Peralta each threw 1 1/3 hitless innings. Burke Badenhop got an out before Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 27th save and completed the four-hitter.
Rodney gave up a two-out single to Casey Kotchman, but then got a fly to right from pinch-hitter Travis Hafner on the first pitch.
Asdrubal Cabrera, mired in a 1-for-26 slide, opened the fourth with single for the Indians’ first hit. After Moore issued consecutive walks to Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley, Jose Lopez cut the deficit to 3-1 on a sacrifice fly.
