Pitcher Fausto Carmona stellar in Friday's abbreviated start: Cleveland Indians Insider

The Indians starter was cruising against Tampa Bay before poor weather forced him to take a seat for the night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Bad weather Friday night denied Indians right-hander Fausto Carmona a shot at his best stat line of the season.

Carmona was forced to settle for one unearned run allowed on one hit in five innings of a 3-1 victory over Tampa Bay. The game was called after 6 1/2 innings.

Carmona did not come out after the first of two protracted rain delays. Tony Sipp relieved and worked two hitless innings.

Tampa Bay's hit was an infield single in the third inning by Reid Brignac. Carmona, who threw 72 pitches, walked one and struck out seven.

"You wonder what [a full start] might have looked like because his stuff was so good," Tribe pitching coach Tim Belcher said, "but, hey, we won the game. I like to see starters get a little blow like that every now and then. It will serve him well physically down the stretch."

Carmona's most impressive stat line this year came June 12 against Washington, when he gave up one run in a three-hitter. He walked none and struck out seven as the Tribe won, 7-1.

Carmona (10-7, 3.51 ERA) was even filthier against the Rays. In addition to his typically effective two-seamer, Carmona used a back-door slider in key spots against lefties.

"I spent time in the video room clipping some of it for him, just to reinforce positive thoughts," Belcher said. "I like to have guys watch good things over and over again if they can, instead of focusing on the bad stuff. He certainly had a lot of good Friday."

The nastiest pitch of them all actually was an accident. Carmona caught Carl Crawford looking in the fourth with a two-seamer that, instead of diving, darted across from far inside to over the plate. Crawford could not believe how much the pitch moved.

"If he can make a pitch like that, you tip your cap to him," Crawford said.

Belcher said: "That was a sinker that squirted on Fausto. It's not a pitch you want to be throwing early in the count, but it's a good two-strike pitch. Throw as hard as you can and say, 'Here it is, hit it.' "

Pronk problems: Designated hitter Travis Hafner appeared lost in the batter's box Friday night -- and heard about it from the Tribe faithful.

Hafner struck out his first two trips and finished 0-for-3. He stranded five.

Tampa Bay righty Jeff Niemann used an assortment of off-speed pitches to daze and confuse Hafner. After the second strikeout, in particular, boos reverberated through the seats.

Indians manager Manny Acta was startled by what he witnessed from Pronk.

"I know his numbers have been better over the last few weeks, but right now, something's not right," Acta said. "When he's locked in, he doesn't chase pitches out of the zone, and I saw him chase three pitches in one at-bat Friday."

Hafner entered Saturday hitting .251 with eight homers and 32 RBI in 79 games. He was at .294 with three RBI in his past 10.

"Travis is healthy, so I'm expecting him to be a big contributor in the middle of our lineup," Acta said. "You can't change things in one at-bat, but my money's on him to turn it around. He's hit his whole life."

Hafner did not start Saturday against the Rays, but it was not because of what happened the previous night. The Rays' starter, lefty David Price, is one of the game's best. Price held left-handed batters to a .195 average and zero homers in his first 18 starts this season.

Hafner was hitting .226 with one homer against lefties.

Shelley Duncan started at DH and batted eighth. He was hitting .281 against lefties.

Acta's lineup featured one left-handed batter -- Shin-Soo Choo.

Kearns returns: Austin Kearns, who missed the previous three games because of right-knee soreness, started in left field and batted sixth.

Envelope, please: Acta said he will announce after today's game who will take lefty Aaron Laffey's spot in the rotation. Laffey was placed on the disabled list July 23 because of shoulder fatigue.

The first start for the substitute will come Tuesday against the Yankees and former Indians Cy Young winner CC Sabathia.

The leading candidate is Class AAA Columbus righty Carlos Carrasco, who has been dealing with forearm issues. Acta said Carrasco "seems to be OK" after his most recent side session. Take this to the bank: Whoever gets the call will not be tweeting about it.

Columbus lefty David Huff likely hurt his chances for a spot start July 18 against Detroit when a tweet from his account stated he had gotten the call. The Indians went with Clippers righty Jeanmar Gomez, who gave up two unearned runs in seven innings of a victory.

Gomez almost certainly will not get the nod this time because he threw 97 pitches Friday night in a dominant performance against Pawtucket.

On the mend: Right-hander Anthony Reyes, who had reconstructive elbow surgery in June 2009, is scheduled to pitch for Class AA Akron on Tuesday as part of a rehab assignment. He will throw three innings or 50 pitches, whichever comes first.

Reyes participated in pregame drills at Progressive Field on Saturday.

Reyes could be a starter or reliever with the Indians later this season, but Acta said the organization views him as a starter. The plan is to stretch out Reyes in the off-season, as happened with Jake Westbrook entering this season. Westbrook underwent reconstructive elbow surgery in June 2008.

Finally: More than a few readers wondered if Asdrubal Cabrera's single in the seventh inning Friday night counts. Yes, it does.

Cabrera led off with a bunt through the rain moments before play was halted for a second time. The game never resumed.

The question arose because Tampa Bay did not record an out in the half-inning.

Rule 10.03 (e)(1) states that the official scorer shall include the record off all individual and team actions up until the moment the game ends.

Cabrera went 3-for-4.