On Wednesday night against the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., Carlos Carrasco came within one strike of the Indians franchise's first no-hitter since Len Barker's perfect game on May 15, 1981.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Carlos Carrasco did not allow a hit for 8 2/3 innings as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 8-1, Wednesday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Tribe (36-41) has won the first three of a four-game series by a combined score of 21-4. The finale is Thursday afternoon.
Carrasco's no-hit bid ended when Joey Butler punched an 0-2 slider over leaping second baseman Jason Kipnis for a single. Indians manager Terry Francona summoned Austin Adams to replace Carrasco, who exited to a standing ovation.
Carrasco became the sixth MLB pitcher in the past five years to lose a no-hit bid after 8 2/3 innings.
Butler's hit drove in Asdrubal Cabrera from third. Cabrera had led off the inning with a walk.
Adams retired Jake Elmore on a fly to center to complete a team one-hitter.
Carrasco's final line: 8.2 IP, H, R, ER, 2 BB, 13 K (124 P)
"Cookie'' Carrasco (10-6, 3.88 ERA) was perfect for 6 1/3 before Butler walked. It marked the third straight game in which a Tribe starter was perfect for at least five innings (Cody Anderson, Danny Salazar).
Carrasco relied on a fastball/slider/curve combination. He sprinkled in changeups. The slider was as nasty as it ever has been for Carrasco.
Carrasco's dominance, coupled with the Tampa Bay offense's ineptitude, produced a staggering 30 swings and misses.
Here is a pitch-by-pitch breakdown of his start:
FIRST INNING
(L) Kevin Kiermaier -- 96 fastball foul; 96 fastball inside; 89 slider foul; 96 fastball foul; 91 slider low; 90 slider swinging strikeout.
(R) Joey Butler -- 96 fastball inside; 90 swinging strike; 96 fastball inside; 90 slider swinging strike; 96 fastball, grounder to first (quality play by Carlos Santana moving to his right).
(R) Evan Longoria -- 96 fastball up and in; 96 fastball up and in; 89 slider swinging strike; 96 fastball inside; 89 slider, grounder to short.
(16 pitches)
SECOND INNING
(L) David DeJesus -- 95 fastball inside; 88 changeup swinging strike; 97 fastball foul; 92 changeup grounder to second.
(R) Logan Forsythe -- 96 fastball called strike; 95 fastball, fly to center.
(R) Steven Souza Jr. -- 89 slider swinging strike; 89 slider called strike; 90 slider swinging strikeout.
(9 pitches)
THIRD INNING
(L) Asdrubal Cabrera -- 95 fastball up and away; 94 fastball called strike (outside corner); 91 slider swinging strike; 91 slider, swinging strikeout.
(L) Marc Krauss -- 96 fastball outside; 89 slider swinging strike; 96 fastball outside; 90 changeup foul; 95 fastball outside; 89 off-speed, swinging strikeout.
(R) Curt Casali -- 95 fastball swinging strike; 89 slider called strike; 89 slider foul; 96 fastball outside; 85 curve down and away; 96 fastball, fly to center.
(16 pitches)
FOURTH INNING
(L) Kevin Kiermaier -- slider called strike; 94 fastball inside; 94 fastball outside; 88 slider foul; 96 fastball outside; 95 fastball, called strikeout (outside corner).
(R) Joey Butler -- 89 slider swinging strike; 94 fastball swinging strike; 89 slider outside; 94 fastball inside; 84 curve, swinging strikeout.
Fox SportsTime Ohio analyst Rick Manning said: "It looks like (Tampa batters) are just trying to put the ball in play.''
(R) Evan Longoria -- 96 fastball foul; 89 slider swinging strike; 95 fastball foul; 89 slider foul; 84 curve down and away; 95 fastball, grounder to second.
(17 pitches)
FIFTH INNING
(L) David DeJesus -- 81 curve called strike; 93 fastball foul; 82 curve, swinging strike.
(R) Logan Forsythe -- 95 fastball outside; 92 fastball swinging strike; 93 fastball low; 88 slider called strike; 82 curve, grounder to third (first baseman Carlos Santana good pick of throw).
(R) Steven Souza Jr. -- 88 slider called strike; 94 fastball swinging strike; 94 fastball foul; 84 curve down and away (barely); 93 fastball, swinging strikeout.
(13 pitches)
SIXTH INNING
(L) Asdrubal Cabrera -- 93 fastball outside; 94 fastball swinging strike; 94 fastball foul; 83 curve, swinging strikeout (down and in).
(L) Marc Krauss -- 95 fastball inside; 83 curve swinging strike; 94 fastball outside; 83 curve called strike; 95 fastball, called strikeout (just off outside corner).
(R) Curt Casali -- 93 fastball, looping liner to short (inside).
(10 pitches)
SEVENTH INNING
(L) Kevin Kiermaier-- 88 slider, grounder to first.
(R) Joey Butler -- 93 fastball inside; 88 slider low; 88 slider called strike; (Butler calls timeout); 90 slider called strike (barely); 94 fastball down and in; 84 curve foul; 89 slider foul; 87 slider down and away, walk.
(R) Evan Longoria -- 94 fastball inside; 87 slider called strike; 93 fastball inside; 88 slider, GIDP 3-6-3.
(13 pitches)
EIGHTH INNING
(L) David DeJesus -- 93 fastball outside; 92 fastball foul; 93 fastball, grounder to second.
Fox SportsTime Ohio play voice Matt Underwood said: "There really have not been any hard-hit balls.''
(R) Logan Forsythe -- 87 slider called strike; 83 curve foul; 93 fastball inside; 83 curve, swinging strikeout (down and away).
(R) Steven Souza Jr. -- 88 slider swinging strike; 93 fastball swinging strike; 88 slider down and away; 84 curve foul; 94 fastball, swinging strikeout (inside).
(12 pitches)
NINTH INNING
(L) Asdrubal Cabrera -- 84 curve foul; 95 fastball foul; 90 slider in dirt; 84 curve in dirt; 90 slider inside (crowd boos); 89 slider foul; 94 fastball outside, walk.
(R) Brandon Guyer (PH) -- 93 fastball, HBP.
(L) Grady Sizemore (PH) -- 94 fastball, fielder's choice 6-4 (quality play by shortstop Mike Aviles).
(L) Kevin Kiermaier -- 94 fastball swinging strike; 93 fastball outside; 92 fastball inside; 87 slider foul; 92 fastball foul; 88 changeup, swinging strikeout (off outside corner).
(R) Joey Butler -- 90 slider foul; 89 slider swinging strike; 89 slider, RBI single to right-center (outer third at knees).
(18 pitches)
(Austin Adams relieves.)
Oh, by the way: Tribe bats amassed the eight runs on 10 hits and two walks. Brandon Moss went 2-for-5 with a homer, double and five RBI. Hitting machine Jason Kipnis was 2-for-5 with an RBI and run.