Matt Moore was cruising in his season debut, until the fourth inning.
The Tampa Bay Rays southpaw, making his first start in 14 months since Tommy John surgery, took a no-hitter into the fourth inning Thursday versus the Cleveland Indians before things took a turn for the worse.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
The Indians got on the board courtesy of a Michael Brantley sacrifice fly after a pair of singles to set the stage in the fourth, and then plated three more times in the fifth to chase Moore from the contest after 4 2/3 innings.
"I kind of thought there might have been a little more nervous, body control-type issues, but really, it felt normal," Moore told reporters.
Here's a look at Moore's line:
IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | PC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 81 |
"At the end of the day I wanted to be able to look at myself and say that I went out there and competed and didn't leave anything on the table," Moore said, "and I believe that's what [catcher Rene Rivera] and I did for our first time even throwing to each other.”
Moore had a difficult opening assignment opposite reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, who was touched up for four runs over eight innings of work, but amassed 14 strikeouts.