Indians Game Information, July 7

CLEVELAND INDIANS (43-40, 2nd, -3.0 G) vs. TAMPA BAY RAYS (44-40)
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (7-7, 4.59) vs. LHP Matt Moore (5-5, 4.17)
First Pitch: 6:05 p.m. (ET) at Progressive Field
TV: Not televised.  Radio: WTAM, Indians Radio Network
Series Notes:

THE STANDINGS: The Indians lost 10-3 to Tampa Bay last night and fell 3.0 games behind Chicago in the A.L. Central standings, as the White Sox beat Toronto 4-2 at U.S. Cellular Field…Cleveland has been in first place (sole possession or shared) for 40 of 93 days overall this season, including 35 consecutive days from April 24-May 28; club has been in 2nd place for 13 straight and 37 of those remaining 53 days…Cleveland held a season-high 4.0-game lead on May 17 and has trailed by as much as 3.5 games (twice, last June 29).

AROUND  THE  BLOCK:  Cleveland  holds  a  70-43  advantage  all-time against Tampa Bay (1998-2011), including a 41-17 mark here at Progressive Field…the Indians are batting .315 (123-391) with 15 homers and 67 runs (6.1 RPG) over the last 11 games to raise the club’s season average from .248 to .257…while he does not qualify for league leader status, JOSE LOPEZ is batting .349 (15-43) w/ RISP this season, going 5-for-his-last-8 in those situations…the Indians have a 14-2 record when JOE SMITH, VINNIE PESTANO and CHRIS PEREZ all appear in the same game.

SOMETHING TO CHOO ON: SHIN-SOO CHOO has reached safely via hit or walk to lead off the Indians’ half of the first inning in 22 of his 48 starts in the lead-off spot, all coming since May 24 (7-singles, 5-doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 4 walks); has batted .330 (66-200) with 8 HR, 21 RBI and a .964 OPS  in  those  48  games/starts…he  ranks  among A.L.  leaders  in  doubles (T1st, 26), runs (T5th, 56), OBP (7th, .386) and extra-base hits (T9th, 37).