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Rays' Karns overcomes tough start

 
HAVING A BLAST: Former Indian Asdrubal Cabrera rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the second inning at Progressive Field, giving the Rays a 2-1 lead.
HAVING A BLAST: Former Indian Asdrubal Cabrera rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the second inning at Progressive Field, giving the Rays a 2-1 lead.
Published June 20, 2015

CLEVELAND — RHP Nathan Karns didn't start well Friday, his sloppy first inning, marred by a run-scoring wild pitch, erasing the Rays' early lead.

But Karns got better after that, and that ability to adjust in-game made the night better overall as the Rays won 4-1.

"I thought that first inning he looked a little out of whack, falling behind some guys,'' manager Kevin Cash said. "He spiked a fastball there that got away (for the wild pitch). He threw a couple pitches that you could tell he was a little out of synch. But that goes to his credit in that he is kind of developing and maturing into a pitcher here that he's able to slow the game down a little bit and start making pitches, which I thought he did.''

Karns wasn't pleased after the first, which started with a leadoff double and a bunt he failed to make a play on. "After that I was just able to find my groove and just stick with it for most of the game,'' Karns said.

He cruised into the sixth but when he allowed back-to-back singles his night was about done. Cash let him face, and strike out, Carlos Santana, then summoned Xavier Cedeno, who got two key strikeouts.

CASH CALL: When Indians manager Terry Francona wasn't playfully ripping on Cash — saying he was "hitting .140 when he was hot," chiding him for not getting to the stadium until noon (for a 7:10 p.m. game) — he raved about him, calling his former bullpen coach "one of the most special people I've ever come across in the game."

Cash said it would be "a special three days," was excited about catching up with people and expected lots of jokes.

The Indians struck first, showing a mock tribute video to Cash during batting practice that featured a clip of him being slammed to the ground by reliever Marc Rzepczynski during a playful 2014 moment, and Cash's head on a swimsuit model's body to congratulate him for his new reality show.

Cash got a few chuckles out of it: "I knew they would so something like that. I'm really disappointed so many people would stoop to Tito's level."

ARCHED UP: RHP Chris Archer said he was "frustrated" when Cash lifted him for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning Thursday and felt it has been a "common theme" not to get to pitch as deep as he would like. Cash, who said the NL rules and the rain delay made for "a unique situation," maintained that was actually a good thing to hear. "I think that that's a starting pitcher that is really, really good and wanting to pitch," Cash said. "If you come take the ball from a starting pitcher or tell him he's out and he's like, 'Okay,' we've got more issues on our hands."

CLEVELAND CONFLUENCE: The Rays followed the Cubs into Cleveland, and Chicago manager Joe Maddon left behind a few gifts for his old team, including a bottle of wine and a note for Cash. … The Rays weren't the only Tampa Bay team in town Friday, as the Storm was playing an Arena Football League game across the street.

ROUGH RIDERS: The Rays had quite the turbulent and frightening flight from Washington to Cleveland after Thursday's game. "The best way to describe it is that it's like you're going 600 mph and you just hit a ginormous pothole, and then we sank," INF Jake Elmore said. "Everybody woke up. It was bad. I was looking around going, 'Oh my God.' " C Rene Rivera said "it was the worst flight I've ever been on."

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MEDICAL MATTERS: Delayed a day by rain, DH/OF John Jaso took batting practice on the field Friday for the first time since bruising his left wrist opening day. … LHP Matt Moore (Tommy John surgery rehab) will be stretched out to 90 pitches Sunday when he moves up to Triple-A Durham for the fourth of likely five rehab starts. … INF Tim Beckham (hamstring strain) will play in a Gulf Coast League scrimmage today and could start a rehab assignment as soon as Monday.

MISCELLANY: Archer will speak to kids this morning playing in the Cleveland RBI program, saying he welcomes the chance to make a personal impact. … 17th-round draftee INF Brett Sullivan became the 17th of the 40 picks to sign. … Stone Crabs RHP Jacob Faria, who leads the minors with 10 wins, will be the South starter in today's advanced Class A Florida State League All-Star Game.