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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

MLB notes: Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco loses no-no with two outs in ninth inning

Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco watches first hit land in the outfield with two outs in the ninth. (Associated Press)

Carlos Carrasco was one strike away from throwing Cleveland’s first no-hitter in 34 years and already considering ways to celebrate.

A bit prematurely it turned out.

The right-hander gave up an RBI single to Joey Butler over leaping second baseman Jason Kipnis’ glove in an 8-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

“It’s part of the game. I was excited. … I started thinking about what I needed to do, throw my glove in the air or something,” Carrasco said. “It was great. I almost made it.”

For the third straight night, the Indians took a perfect game into the sixth inning against the Rays. This time, Carrasco retired the first 19 batters before walking Butler with one out in the seventh.

Carrasco walked Asdrubal Cabrera leading off the ninth, then struck pinch-hitter Brandon Guyer with a pitch. Grady Sizemore, also pinch hitting, grounded into a force play and Kevin Kiermaier struck out to bring Butler to the plate with a crowd of 11,394 at Tropicana Field on its feet.

Butler lined an 0-2 slider over the 5-foot-11 Kipnis, who jumped high in the air to make an attempt at catching the ball and fell flat to the ground as the line drive landed cleanly in the outfield.

“He left me a pitch to hit and I did what I could with it,” said Butler, a 29-year-old rookie who was in a 2-for-19 tailspin before that at-bat.

Carrasco smiled, clapped into his glove several times and pointed at the second baseman in appreciation of his effort.

The 28-year-old right-hander was lifted after his career-high 124th pitch and Austin Adams got the final out.

Angels GM resigns

Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto resigned Wednesday, abruptly ending his 3 1/2-year tenure with the club amid apparent tensions with manager Mike Scioscia.

Former general manager Bill Stoneman will take over as the interim GM for the rest of the season.

They’re back

Marlins ace Jose Fernandez will pitch today for the first time since May 2014, when he was stopped by Tommy John surgery. The 22-year-old righty was the 2013 N.L. Rookie of the Year.

He’ll throw at home against San Francisco. Giants star Matt Cain makes his first start since last July, having been sidelined by elbow surgery and a strained flexor tendon.

Clearing the bases

Mets OF Michael Cuddyer has been given two shots to relieve discomfort in his left knee but expects to avoid the DL. … The Orioles have designated OF Delmon Young for assignment. … A’s pitcher Sonny Gray has been diagnosed with a stomach ailment that sent him to a hospital. The A’s are hoping he can pitch Sunday against the Mariners. … Giants catcher Buster Posey left the game against the Marlins after taking a foul ball off his mask. Posey said he hopes to play today.