Recap: Cleveland vs. Tampa Bay

By Sports Network

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run homer and knocked in three and Andy Marte added a solo shot as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-2, sweeping a four-game series at Progressive Field.

Marte finished 2-for-4, while Ben Francisco drove in a run for the Indians, who have won four straight after dropping the previous 10 games and hold a 41- 53 heading into the All-Star break.

Jeremy Sowers started, but lasted only four innings. The left-hander allowed two runs on three hits, while striking out a career-high eight and walking a career-high seven batters. Tom Mastny (1-2) earned the win by tossing two scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Masahide Kobayashi record his fifth save of the season by pitching a perfect ninth inning.

Akinori Iwamura and Shawn Riggans each knocked in a run for Tampa Bay, which was limited to three hits. The Rays have dropped seven in a row and are 55-39 at the break.

Scott Kazmir (7-5) took the loss after being touched for five runs on eight hits over six innings. He struck out seven and walked a pair.

Tampa Bay broke through for a run in the top of the second, thanks in part to Sowers, who struggled to find the plate. After striking out Evan Longoria to start the inning, the lefty issued walks to the next two batters before fanning Ben Zobrist. Sowers, however, issued a free pass to Gabe Gross to load the bases and another to Iwamura that forced in a run. It could have been worse, but Willy Aybar struck out to end the inning.

Casey Blake led off the home half of the frame with a double, but Kazmir settled down to strike out the next two batters, before getting Sal Fasano to fly out to left.

Riggans' run-scoring single in the top of the third plated Carlos Pena to put the Rays ahead by a 2-0 margin.

Cleveland came back to manufacture a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Franklin Gutierrez singled to get things going and two batters later Jamey Carroll's base hit put runners on the corners with one down. Francisco's run-scoring single and sacrifice fly by Jhonny Peralta tied things at 2-2.

Peralta's two-run homer to left on a 1-0 changeup in the fifth, put the Tribe in front 4-2. A solo shot by Marte in the sixth, gave the Indians a three-run cushion.

Cleveland's bullpen shutdown the Rays the rest of the way and Kobayashi was brought on for the ninth and retired the side in order to preserve the win.