Bartlett has 10th inning RBI single, Crawford hits two-run homer and Rays beat Cleveland 6-5

Bartlett has 10th inning RBI single in Rays’ win

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jason Bartlett hit a game-ending single over a drawn-in outfield in the 10th inning, giving the Tampa Bay Rays a 6-5 win over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.

Ben Zobrist opened the 10th with a single off Kerry Wood (1-4) and later was forced out at second on Carl Crawford’s grounder. After Crawford stole second, Evan Longoria was intentionally walked. Bartlett then won it with a long single to right center on 1-2 pitch.

Crawford homered for the Rays, who are 9-2 in July after going 11-14 during June. Andy Sonnanstine (2-0) pitched a perfect 10th.

Cleveland got two RBIs from Austin Kearns. The Indians lost three of four in the series and are 17-32 on the road this season.

The Rays loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth against Hector Ambriz, but failed to score when B.J. Upton flew out to short center, Reid Brignac struck out and Sean Rodriguez hit a grounder.

Crawford hit a two-run homer off Justin Masterson and Upton had a sacrifice fly to put the Rays ahead 5-3 in the fifth. Crawford hit a pair of two-run shots in Thursday’s 5-2 win over the Indians.

Cleveland tied it at 5 during the sixth when Trevor Crowe had a run-scoring single and another run scored when Anderson Hernandez hit into a double play.

Kearns drove in two runs with a single and Matt LaPorta hit an RBI double as the Indians went up 3-0 in the first.

The Rays got one run back in the bottom of the first when Crawford scored from third on a botched rundown after Pena hit a grounder back to Masterson, who then threw the ball to third base. Andy Marte chased Crawford toward the plate before being charged with an error for a bad throw to catcher Chris Gimenez.

Brignac’s RBI single got the Rays to 3-2 in the fourth.

Tampa Bay’s Jeff Niemann gave up three runs and six hits over five innings. The right-hander departed after throwing just 70 pitches.

Masterson allowed five runs and eight hits in five innings.

NOTES: Crawford said his left shoulder is sore and was the DH for the second consecutive game. … Cleveland manager Manny Acta said OF Shin-Soo Choo, who has been on the disabled list since July 3 with a sprained right thumb, could return by the end of the month. … Indians DH Travis Hafner (left upper back stiffness) underwent treatment and was available in an emergency situation. … Cleveland LHP Aaron Laffey said he is fine although his velocity was down in Saturday’s start. Acta plans to monitor the matter.