Indians rookie Cody Anderson flirts with perfection in win over Rays

Cody Anderson was only very good through eight innings.

The Cleveland Indians rookie carried a perfect game into the seventh in a 7-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, before showing that he's actually human.

After recording the first out of the inning, veteran Grady Sizemore stepped up to the dish and cranked a solo homer to right, effectively ending his perfect night.

Sizemore, who was recalled this week in his latest big league stint, had gone a career-high 53 games before hitting a home run.

"Man, that was impressive," Indians manager Terry Francona said of the performance. "Again, he's two starts in, but he faced a team for the second time, so they saw him. Last time out, he flipped some really good breaking balls in there.

"Today, he had really good downhill plane on his fastball - both sides - and then he threw a really good changeup."

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

The next batter, Evan Longoria, ended the one-hit bid, belting a single before moving up to second on an error.

Anderson, now 2-0 with a 0.57 ERA, has proven one of two things: either he's acclimated himself to big league hitters, or just Rays hitters.

Through two starts, both against Tampa, the 24-year-old has thrown 15 2/3 innings of one-run ball. In his first start on June 21, he earned the win, going 7 2/3, giving up six hits while recording four strikeouts.

"Whatever was working for you the first day, I feel they're going to attack those strengths," Anderson said. "So, sometimes you have to switch it up a little bit. I was able to throw some pitches in different counts that really helped me out."

Considering his strikeout rate isn't high, Rays skipper Kevin Cash, a former catcher, knows a good pitcher when he sees one.

"You know, the guy obviously pitched a really well-pitched game against us," Cash said. "Couldn't get too much going until late. Not a high strikeout guy, but a lot of late movement."