ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Editor's Note: The above video is the latest in our Locked On Indians podcast series
Five Tampa Bay pitchers combined for seven hitless innings, and the Rays beat the Indians 4-0 Wednesday for a doubleheader sweep.
Collin McHugh (two perfect innings), Josh Fleming (7-4 after allowing one walk in 2 2/3 innings), Diego Castillo (one out), Matt Wisler (one inning) and Pete Fairbanks (one inning) combined for the hitless performance in a game shortened to seven innings under pandemic rules.
The game will not go into the official list of no-hitters. MLB's eight-man committee on statistical accuracy decided in 1991 that a no-hitter was a game of nine or more innings that ended with no hits.
There have been seven official no-hitters this season, one shy of the high set in 1884, the first year overhand pitching was allowed.
Cleveland had just three baserunners, including Oscar Mercado, who reached safely against Josh Fleming after third baseman Wander Franco and shortstop Taylor Walls collided on a routine grounder leading off in the third. Originally scored as an infield single, the call was changed one inning later to an error on Franco for running into Walls.
Sam Hentges gave up four runs and five hits over 4 1/3 innings for the Indians, who have now lost nine in a row.
It is the the longest losing streak during Terry Francona's managerial time with Cleveland. The Indians dropped eight straight from Sept. 8-16, 2020, and from June 2-10, 2013.
Kevin Kiermaier homered and drove in a career-high five runs, Vidal Bruján added an RBI single in his major league debut as the Rays took the opener 8-1.
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