Five different Red Sox hitters had multiple hits, and Sandy Leon hit a three run homer to cap off a six run fifth inning to blow open a close game en route to a 12-5 win over the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park Monday evening.
It was a slow start for the hosts however, as Cleveland got an RBI single from Jason Kipnis and an RBI groundout from Roberto Perez in the first inning making it 2-0 Indians off Sox starter Rick Porcello. Jake Bauers hit an RBI groundout in the third inning to extend to a 3-0 lead. Boston got two back in the Boston in the third when Mookie Betts singled to score Andrew Benintendi. Betts was able to get to third base when his single was misplayed by Cleveland right fielder Oscar Mercado. Betts then scored on a wild pitch with Rafael Devers batting.
Brock Holt returned to the lineup and tied things with a one out single in the fourth to make it 3-3. The Sox then broke it open in the big fifth inning. Three straight run scoring doubles by Devers, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackie Bradley Jr made it 6-3 Boston. Leon then hit his second homerun of the season, a three run shot to left to cap off the six run outburst. JD Martinez hit the first of his two solo homers in the sixth to right field just over the fence at the 380 sign to make it 10-3. Cleveland ended their scoring in the seventh on an RBI single by Perez, and an RBI double from Mike Freeman ending the day for Porcello. Bradley Jr responded with an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh, and Martinez launched one over the green monster in left in the eighth to end all scoring on the day.
Betts, Martinez, Bogaerts, Chavis, and Bradley Jr all had two hits and Leon led the way in RBI with the three run homer. Porcello (4-4) got the win allowing five runs (three earned), eight hits, with three walks, along with four strikeouts in 6.2 innings. Heath Hembree, Ryan Brasier, and Hector Velazquez pitched the final 2.1 innings of no run and one hit ball out of the bullpen. Mercado, Kipnis, and Freeman all had two hits each for the 26-27 Indians who are 10 games behind Minnesota for first place in the AL Central, and losers of seven of their last eight games. Jefrey Rodriguez (1-5) took the loss on the hill allowing six earned runs and eight hits over 4.1 innings.
Boston is now 29-25, and will entertain Cleveland again in game two of the series on Tuesday night at 7:10 p.m. The Sox will send David Price to the bump, as he will be opposed by Zach Plesac who is making his major league debut for the Indians.
