CLEVELAND — Edwin Rodriguez has been hired by the Cleveland Indians to manage their Double-A affiliate, the Carolina Mudcats.

The 51-year-old Rodriguez managed the Florida Marlins for parts of two seasons before resigning this year during a long losing skid. He went 78-85 with the Marlins and became the first Puerto Rican-born manager in major league history.

Before taking over the Marlins, Rodriguez managed in Florida’s farm system for five years. In that role, he worked as the Mudcats’ hitting coach in 2004.

Rodriguez played in the majors for the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres before retiring in 1987.

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CLEVELAND (AP)—Edwin Rodriguez has been hired by the Cleveland Indians to
manage their Double-A affiliate, the Carolina Mudcats.

The 51-year-old Rodriguez managed the Florida Marlins for parts of two
seasons before resigning this year during a long losing skid. He went 78-85 with
the Marlins and became the first Puerto Rican-born manager in major league
history.

Before taking over the Marlins, Rodriguez managed in Florida’s farm system
for five years. In that role, he worked as the Mudcats’ hitting coach in 2004.

Rodriguez played in the majors for the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres
before retiring in 1987.

By Rick Freeman

AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch after he homered, Bartolo Colon pitched two-hit ball into the seventh inning before he hurt himself, and the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 4-0 on a misty, windy Saturday afternoon.

Curtis Granderson hit his 20th homer of the season and Rodriguez got plunked by Indians starter Mitch Talbot a day after the teams’ benches cleared, adding another chapter to what has been a testy homestand for the Yankees.

It was the sixth time a Yankees batter has been hit this homestand.

“I thought it was a little fishy,” manager Joe Girardi said. “Probably with what happened last night, (the umpires’) antennas are up.”

Talbot was ejected after hitting A-Rod, but the Yankees didn’t respond in kind.

Instead, they sent Cleveland to its 13th loss in 17 games and left the Indians barely clinging to first place in the AL Central for one more day.

Colon (5-3), famously traded in 2002 by the Indians for three minor leaguers who went on to become All-Stars, was working on a gem against his first big league team. He limped off in the top of the seventh after retiring Shin-Soo Choo covering first base.

The Yankees said Colon strained his left hamstring. He struck out six over 6 2-3 innings to win for the third straight start after two losses in his previous five.

The Yankees made it 3-0 in the seventh when Jorge Posada singled into the right field corner. Choo had trouble coming up with the ball and Nick Swisher came home.

The Indians got the tying run to the plate with nobody out in the eighth, but David Robertson struck out Michael Brantley, Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore to end the threat.

Mark Teixeira homered off Vinnie Pestano in the eighth to make it 4-0.

A-Rod opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a line-drive shot into a strong wind blowing in from left field for only the second hit off Talbot (2-3). Granderson then hit his 20th homer of the season deep to right in the sixth.

Teixeira flied out before Talbot hit Rodriguez in the backside. It was a homer by Granderson that preceded the benches-clearing incident the previous night, too.

Plate umpire Dan Iassogna immediately tossed Talbot after the righty hit Rodriguez. While A-Rod writhed on the ground, Talbot argued with Iassogna, and Cleveland manager Manny Acta came out, too. Talbot gestured to the mound, possibly suggesting that he slipped on the wet dirt.

Teixeira left Tuesday night’s game against Boston after getting on the right kneecap by a first-inning pitch from Jon Lester, and Red Sox ace Josh Beckett plunked three New York stars Thursday night: Jeter, Rodriguez and Granderson.

“I’m tired of it,” Girardi said. “Our guys get hit entirely too much. We’re a club that hits home runs and people don’t necessarily like that.”

Notes: Granderson tied Toronto’s Jose Bautista for the AL lead in homers. Teixeira is one behind with 19. … Brett Gardner got the Yankees’ first hit off Talbot with a bunt single in the third inning. He was thrown out at second on a pitchout, and Talbot caught him trying to steal third in the fifth. … In the second inning, the Yankees’ Robinson Cano hit a liner foul and it hit a police officer stationed in the photo well. He disappeared from view briefly, then reappeared to applause, and his fellow officer smacked him on the back as he triumphantly showed the ball. … The Indians received Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips from Montreal in the 2002 deadline trade for Colon.

© 2011 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Carlos Carrasco put together a quality start and the Cleveland Indians’ offense did their part, too.

Shelley Duncan and Orlando Cabrera each had two RBIs, Carrasco pitched six solid innings and the Indians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 on Saturday.

“Carrasco gave us a chance,” Cleveland manager Manny Acta said. “He threw the ball well, and was aggressive with his fastball.”

Duncan, who was pinch-hitting, and Cabrera both had two-run singles during the eighth to put Cleveland ahead 7-2. Duncan had a bases-loaded drive off J.P. Howell that hit high off the left-field wall, but he was held to a single because it looked like outfielder Sam Fuld might be able to catch the ball.

“Huge hit by Shelley Duncan. Huge hit by Orlando Cabrera, who always seems to be in the middle of those big rallies,” Acta said.

Carrasco (4-2) gave up two runs and seven hits, helping the AL Central-leading Indians end a three-game losing streak. Cleveland had been outscored 23-4 during the short skid.

“I put in my mind I have to win this game and that’s what I did,” Carrasco said.

Slumping Rays All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria, moved from the middle of the lineup to leadoff, had two hits in four at-bats, including a homer. Manager Joe Maddon has taken that approach with struggling power hitters in the past and told Longoria to start having fun again.

Maddon said Longoria “analyzed the pitches better today” and did not rule out keeping him in the same leadoff role on Sunday.

Longoria drew a two-out walk off Rafael Perez to load the bases in the ninth. The Rays scored a run when first baseman Matt LaPorta was charged with an error after misplaying Johnny Damon’s grounder, but closer Chris Perez got his 14th save when Sean Rodriguez was tagged out during rundown between third and home on the play. Continued…

Perez said he was mad at himself for being slow covering first base and was heading toward the mound when he heard his teammates start yelling.

“I look up and there’s guys running everywhere,” Perez said. “I ran right at Rodriguez and he had to make a decision.”

Longoria took most of the blame for the final out because he rounded second and was running toward third, where Rodriguez had stopped.

The Indians went up 2-0 during a strange first inning that saw just five hitters bat even though the first four all got hits.

Michael Brantley had a leadoff single and scored on a triple by Asdrubal Cabrera, who then was picked off third by James Shields (5-3). After Shin-Soo Choo and Travis Buck singled, Carlos Santana hit what turned out to be an inning-ending sacrifice fly. Choo crossed the plate on Santana’s liner to right before Buck, who was running on the pitch, was doubled off first base.

LaPorta extended the Indians’ advantage to 3-0 on a second-inning homer. He had struck out in all four at-bats in Friday night’s 5-0 loss to the Rays.

Shields allowed three runs and seven hits over seven innings. The right-hander has gone seven or more innings — including a 4-0 complete-game win over Florida last Sunday — in nine consecutive starts.

Longoria cut the deficit to 3-1 on his third-inning solo shot. It was his first homer and RBI this season at home, coming in his 12th game.

Longoria, who had just six hits in 45 at-bats over his previous 12 games, also had a first-inning single.

“Joe’s usually right,” Longoria said of his manager. Continued…

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Carlos Carrasco put together a quality start and the Cleveland Indians’ offense did their part, too.

Shelley Duncan and Orlando Cabrera each had two RBIs, Carrasco pitched six solid innings and the Indians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 on Saturday.

“Carrasco gave us a chance,” Cleveland manager Manny Acta said. “He threw the ball well, and was aggressive with his fastball.”

Duncan, who was pinch-hitting, and Cabrera both had two-run singles during the eighth to put Cleveland ahead 7-2. Duncan had a bases-loaded drive off J.P. Howell that hit high off the left-field wall, but he was held to a single because it looked like outfielder Sam Fuld might be able to catch the ball.

“Huge hit by Shelley Duncan. Huge hit by Orlando Cabrera, who always seems to be in the middle of those big rallies,” Acta said.

Carrasco (4-2) gave up two runs and seven hits, helping the AL Central-leading Indians end a three-game losing streak. Cleveland had been outscored 23-4 during the short skid.

“I put in my mind I have to win this game and that’s what I did,” Carrasco said.

Slumping Rays All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria, moved from the middle of the lineup to leadoff, had two hits in four at-bats, including a homer. Manager Joe Maddon has taken that approach with struggling power hitters in the past and told Longoria to start having fun again.

Maddon said Longoria “analyzed the pitches better today” and did not rule out keeping him in the same leadoff role on Sunday.

Longoria drew a two-out walk off Rafael Perez to load the bases in the ninth. The Rays scored a run when first baseman Matt LaPorta was charged with an error after misplaying Johnny Damon’s grounder, but closer Chris Perez got his 14th save when Sean Rodriguez was tagged out during rundown between third and home on the play.

Perez said he was mad at himself for being slow covering first base and was heading toward the mound when he heard his teammates start yelling.

“I look up and there’s guys running everywhere,” Perez said. “I ran right at Rodriguez and he had to make a decision.”

Longoria took most of the blame for the final out because he rounded second and was running toward third, where Rodriguez had stopped.

The Indians went up 2-0 during a strange first inning that saw just five hitters bat even though the first four all got hits.

Michael Brantley had a leadoff single and scored on a triple by Asdrubal Cabrera, who then was picked off third by James Shields (5-3). After Shin-Soo Choo and Travis Buck singled, Carlos Santana hit what turned out to be an inning-ending sacrifice fly. Choo crossed the plate on Santana’s liner to right before Buck, who was running on the pitch, was doubled off first base.

LaPorta extended the Indians’ advantage to 3-0 on a second-inning homer. He had struck out in all four at-bats in Friday night’s 5-0 loss to the Rays.

Shields allowed three runs and seven hits over seven innings. The right-hander has gone seven or more innings — including a 4-0 complete-game win over Florida last Sunday — in nine consecutive starts.

Longoria cut the deficit to 3-1 on his third-inning solo shot. It was his first homer and RBI this season at home, coming in his 12th game.

Longoria, who had just six hits in 45 at-bats over his previous 12 games, also had a first-inning single.

“Joe’s usually right,” Longoria said of his manager.

Rodriguez’s RBI bunt single in the fourth made it 3-2.

Tampa Bay’s Matt Joyce, who entered hitting a major league-best .377, went 1 for 4. His average dropped three points.

Notes: Longoria is the first Rays player to homer in first at-bat leading off a game. … Cleveland DH Grady Sizemore went 0 for 4 and is hitless in eight at-bats since returning Saturday from a bruised right kneecap. … Tampa Bay CF B.J. Upton struck out in his first six plate appearances of the series, including twice Saturday, before grounding out in in the sixth.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Indians beat the Rays, 7-3, Saturday afternoon for just the second time in their last 11 games at Tropicana Field.

Shelly Duncan’s two-run double and Orlando Cabrera’s two-run single in the eighth inning turned a 3-2 game into a laugher. The victory ended the Indians three-game losing streak, which matched their longest of the season.

Duncan, pinch-hitting for Travis Buck with the bases loaded and no one out, doubled deep to left field to bring home two runs. Duncan is 4-for-5 with seven RBI as a pinch-hitter this season.

Orlando Cabrera added a two-out single to center to bring home Shin-Soo Choo and Duncan. Three of the runs were unearned because of an error by second baseman Ben Zobrist.

Chris Perez earned his 14th save in 15 chances in wild fashion. He entered the ninth with the bases loaded and two out. Johnny Damon sent a grounder to Matt LaPorta at first that he didn’t field cleanly. Casey Kotchman scored, but the Indians caught Sean Rodriguez in a rundown between third and home for the final out.

Carlos Carrasco pitched six innings for the victory. Carrasco (4-2, 4.91) allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings. He struck out four and has won three of his four starts since coming off the disabled list on May 11.

The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the first. Michael Brantley opened with a  with a single off James Shields (5-3, 2.29). Asdrubal Cabrera scored him with a triple to left center that B.J. Upton didn’t play well. Then the Indians feel asleep.

Asdrubal Cabrera was picked off third by Shields with Choo at the plate for the first out. Choo followed with a single that would have made it 2-0. Buck added another single to chase Choo to third.

Carlos Santana hit a sacrifice fly to right field and it’s fortunate Choo sprinted home because for some reason Buck was running on contact and was doubled off first base to end the inning. If Choo hadn’t scored before Buck was retired, the run wouldn’t have counted.

It was the second time this season the Indians have had a player picked off third. It happened to Choo on April 13 against Los Angeles at Angel Stadium.

LaPorta, who was born in Port Charlotte, Fla., and lives in Clearwater, Fla., let the hometown fans down Friday when he struck out four times in a 5-0 loss. He made up for that in the second inning Saturday when he drove a 1-2 pitch into the right field
seats for a homer and a 3-0 lead.

It was LaPorta’s sixth homer and first since May 19. LaPorta homered, singled, walked and lined out to center.

When Shields faced the Indians on May 12 at Progressive Field, he held them to two runs over seven innings in a 7-4 victory. On Saturday Shields, 1-5 lifetime against the Tribe, allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings to take the loss.

Carrasco’s first three innings for the Indians were decent with the exception of his pitch selection to Evan Longoria. The Rays third baseman, batting leadoff for the first time in his career to try get him to be more selective at the plate, started the game with single. With two out in the third, he homered on Carrasco’s 2-0 pitch to make it 3-1.

Longoria, since coming off the disabled list (strained oblique) on May 3, went into Saturday’s game hitting .222 (18-for-81).

The Rays made it 3-2 on Rodriguez’s squeeze bunt in the fourth. Matt Joyce opened the inning with a single and went to third on Casey Kotchman’s single past Orlando Cabrera at second base.

The Indians were caught flat-footed by the Rodriguez’s bunt. Carrasco and LaPorta charged the ball. Santana came from in back of the plate and pointed for Carrasco, who fielded the ball, to go to first base. Carrasco tossed it to Santana instead as Joyce scored and Rodriguez was given a hit.

If Carrasco had thrown to first base, no one would have been there. LaPorta charged from first and Orlando Cabrera didn’t come over from second base.

Carrasco pitched out of further trouble by retiring Sam Fuld on a liner to right and Kelly Shoppach on a fly ball to center.