Bostons David Price delivers a pitch to Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor during action at Fenway Park on Thursday, August 23, 2018. Price would lead the Red Sox to a 7-0 win. Photo by Chris Lessner. (click to enlarge)
BOSTON, Mass- David Price hurled an impressive eight innings Thursday afternoon allowing no runs, and his Boston Red Sox teammates picked him up with a six run fifth inning en route to a 7-0 win over the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park. Boston was able to garner a split of the four game series between the division leaders, after dropping the first two.
After the two teams only combined for three hits over the first four and a half innings, Boston (90-39) finally got to rookie Cleveland starter Adam Plutko in the fifth. Sandy Leon hit a ground rule double to lead it off, followed by a Jackie Bradley Jr. single. Mookie Betts flied out, and the Indians walked Andrew Benintendi intentionally to load the bases. Blake Swihart, who was filling in for Mitch Moreland after a first inning injury, smacked a two run double on a 2-2 pitch to right center to make it 2-0. The Indians then walked JD Martinez intentionally, and brought in reliever Adam Cimber. Xander Bogaerts followed with yet another two run double down the left field line to double the lead. After another intentional walk to Brock Holt to reload the bases, Eduardo Nunez hit the third two run double of the inning to extend the lead to 6-0.
Martinez added his 109th RBI with an RBI single in the sixth to end the scoring on the day. Swihart, Bradley Jr, and Betts all had two hits a piece as part of the 12 hit attack for the Sox, while Bogaerts, Nunez, and Swihart all had the two RBI each. Price (14-6), only allowed three hits and struck out seven. He threw 101 pitches, 68 for strikes. Since the All Star break, Price has a 1.09 ERA, allowing just five earned runs over 41.1 innings pitched. Boston has won 16 of the last 18 games the left hander has started, including eight in a row. Tyler Thornburg gave up a pair of hits in the ninth, but was able to finish off the shutout. Moreland is considered day to day, and according to the team he suffered a left knee contusion diving for a foul ball in the first inning. Boston becomes the first team in the majors with 90 wins, before any other team reaches 80 and now are 9.5 games up on the second place idle New York Yankees.
Greg Allen led Cleveland (73-54) with a pair of hits. Plutko (4-4), was charged with five earned runs on five hits over 4.1 innings.
Boston heads to Tampa Bay to start a three game weekend set with the Rays Friday night at 7:10. This is expected to be a bullpen game for both teams, as Hector Valazquez will go first few innings for the Sox, and Diego Castillo starts for the Rays with former Boston prospect Jalen Beeks expected to get a bulk of the innings.
Boston right fielder Mookie Betts waits on a pitch from Cleveland pitcher Adam Plutko during MLB action at Fenway Park Thursday, August 23, 2018. Betts had two hits to help lead the Red Sox to a 7-0 win. Photo by Chris Lessner. (click to enlarge)
