(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FLA -- Guardians' starter Zach Plesac had trouble keeping the ball i the park against the Rays on Saturday afternoon. Brandon Lowe got the scoring going early for the Rays on a 2-run blast to right-center field in the first inning. In a 3-1 game in the 5th inning, former Indians third baseman Yandy Diaz provided much-needed insurance runs on a 2-run homer to left-center field. The Cleveland Guardians fell short in the 9th inning, leaving two runners on base as they lost to the Rays by the final score of 6-4.
Corey Kluber took the ball for the Rays against his former club and gave a decent performance. The savvy veteran hurled 6 full innings giving up 4 earned runs on 8 hits while striking out 10 total batters along the way.
The Guardians and Rays will clash in the rubber match of the weekend series on Sunday afternoon. The first pitch is set for 1:40 pm ET at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.