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Indians' Carrasco loses no-hitter with 2 outs in 9th: 'I just started laughing. I don't know why'

Brian Blanco / Getty

The Tampa Bay Rays spoiled a late perfect game bid by a Cleveland Indians starter for a third straight night, and waited until the final strike to ruin a no-hitter on Wednesday.

Facing an 0-2 count, Rays outfielder Joey Butler slapped a two-out single over the glove of Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis in the bottom of the ninth to breakup Carlos Carrasco's no-hitter.

"The last couple innings I wanted to keep throwing strikes," Carrasco told reporters. "I never think about anything. I just go out there and pitch.

"I think I was a little bit tired and I dropped my arm a little bit. I had a great defense and they helped."

Carrasco walked Asdrubal Cabrera to lead off the ninth before hitting Brandon Guyer with a pitch. Grady Sizemore grounded out to put runners on the corners and Kevin Kiermaier struck out, setting the table for Butler to play spoiler.

After swinging and missing on an 89-mph changeup, Carrasco attacked Butler with the same pitch, only this time, the rookie didn't miss. Butler drove the ball to the outfield to cash in the Rays first and only run in the eventual 8-1 loss.

In what should have been a somber moment, Carrasco looked to first base with a smile and applauded Butler.

"I just started laughing," Carrasco told reporters. "I don't know why."

Indians manager Terry Francona removed his right-hander after he surrendered the hit, allowing Carrasco to walk off Tropicana Field to a standing ovation. His final line: one run off one hit and two walks while recording a season-high 13 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings.

Butler appeared to have Carrasco's number for the better part of the evening, as the Venezuelan carved up the rest of his teammates. After collecting a ground out and a strikeout in his first two trips to the plate, Butler worked a one out walk in the seventh inning to ruin Carrasco's perfect game.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Indians starters have completely overpowered the Rays lineup through the first three games of the series. Danny Salazar took a perfect game into the sixth inning on Tuesday before issuing a walk, while rookie Cody Anderson took a perfect game into the seventh Monday before surrendering a home run.

It's the fourth time through the last seven games the Rays had been on the wrong side of a perfect game bid through five innings.

Len Barker was the last Indians pitcher to record a no-hitter when he tossed a perfect game on May 15, 1981 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

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