Adam Eaton singled to center to lead off the inning, then stole second, which began the odd sequence of events.
Rays shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera reached for the ball to try to tag Eaton and it deflected off his glove, hitting him solidly on the right side of his head. Cabrera went to his knees and Eaton raced to third.
"Kind of a fluke play," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "I'm not sure if it took off on Cabby or he put the tag down too early. But it dinged him pretty good."
One out later, after the Rays had intentionally walked the bases loaded by issuing free passes to Jose Abreu and Melky Cabrera, Cabrera went to his knees and left the game.