It would be understandable if the Boston Red Sox didn’t have a lot of motivation for Friday’s night game at Progressive Field against the Indians.
On Thursday night, the Red Sox clinched the American League East with a win over the Yankees at Yankee stadium. With the majority of the regulars sitting out the Red Sox rallied from a three run deficit to get a 7-5 win over the Indians.
The win is the 105th for the Red Sox matching a franchise record set in 1912. This is the first time the Red Sox (105-49) have been 56 games over .500 since they were 96-40 in 1946.
It is a pretty rare game to have one player hit his first major league homer. The Red Sox had two do that. Sam Travis got the scoring started with a solo homer in the third inning. Tzu-Wei Lin finished the scoring with a solo shot in the ninth inning.
Brock Holt had three hits, while Travis, Lin, and Rafael Devers had two hits each. Travis had three RBI, while Lin and Devers drove in two each. Devers also bit a home run. Chris Sale got the start and struck out seven in 3.1 innings. He allowed two runs on five hits and no walks. Sale will have one more tuneup for the postseason begins. Matt Barnes (6-3) returned from a lengthy absence due to an injury. Barnes pitched a scoreless sixth inning. Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his 42nd save.
The Red Sox can set a franchise record for most wins in a season when they take on the Indians again on Saturday night. Rick Porcello is scheduled to be on the mound. They also have the opportunity to clinch the best overall record heading into the postseason.
