The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Cleveland Indians in the A.L. Wild Card Game by the final score of 4-0. The Rays once again used their excellent pitching to lead them to victory as Alex Cobb won his first career playoff game after an amazing start.
Cobb pitched 6.2 innings of scoreless ball. He dominated early as his control was impeccable, striking out five batters while only one walking one. However, it was a stress-filled evening for the young 25-year-old as he had to snake through a couple of innings where the Indians had runners on base.
The Indians had plenty of opportunities, placing runners in scoring position in multiple innings.
In the bottom of the fourth, Santana reached with a one-out double and Michael Brantley followed with an infield single. Brantley appeared to be out by a quarter step, but he was called safe by first-base umpire, Ted Barrett. Cobb walked Ryan Raburn, loading up the bases with one out. However, the Rays' defense stepped up, turning a 3-6-1 double play as Cobb helped his cause, covering first base.
Loney's judgment faltered in the bottom of the 5th as the Indians once again threatened, this time placing runners on the corners with no outs. Michael Bourn struck out and Nick Swisher hit into what should have been an inning-ending double play. However, Loney stepped on the first-base bag and proceeded to throw home as Gomes raced home. Jose Molina tried catching Gomes in a rundown, but because of the shift, there was no Rays' player covering third.
The Indians caught a break, but Cobb once again took matters into his own hand. Though he fell behind Jason Kipnis, he got the Indians' second baseman to ground back to the mound as he swung at a 3-1 pitch.
The Indians continued to threaten throughout the game, finally getting Cobb out of the game in the seventh inning with two outs. However, Joel Peralta took the mound, inheriting runners in first and second, and struck out Swisher in three pitchers. This ended the bottom of the seventh and the Indians threat.
Cleveland did not lack effort in this game as the bottom of their order came up big throughout the game. Their best hitters were Yan Gomes, who went 2-4 and Lonnie Chisenhall, who hit the ball hard, finishing the night 3-4.
Delmon Young provided the thunder in the top of the third, sending a mammoth solo shot to left field, giving the Rays a lead and opening up the scoreboard in the AL Wild Card game.
Desmond Jennings was injured at the end of the regular season, but he helped his team and Cobb in the top of the fourth. He smacked a double with two runners on, scoring Evan Longoria and James Loney. The runs gave Cobb some breathing room, but he would be challenged in the latter half.
Danny Salazar, the Indians' young right hander, obviously did not bring his best stuff to this game, exiting the game after just four innings in the books. He finished with four strikeouts, but he allowed three earned runs on four hits and two walks.
The Rays now take on the Boston Red Sox in an ALDS series that will feature A.L. East studs.
