The Cleveland Indians blew a four run lead on Monday night, but Carlos Santana drilled the third homerun of the night for the hosts with a leadoff solo shot in the bottom of the ninth to lead Cleveland to a 6-5 walkoff win over the Boston Red Sox at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Indians broke on top early in this one, as it was another tough beginning for a Sox starter this time Eduardo Rodriguez. After two outs were recorded in the bottom of the first, Santana would draw a walk. The next hitter Franmil Reyes then drilled an 0-1 pitch over the fence in right center field to make it 2-0 Indians. Andrew Benintendi got a run right back for the Sox in the top of the second however hitting a double to drive in JD Martinez who led off with a single. A pair of one out singles by Santana and Reyes in the third inning set things up for Jose Ramirez to sort of blow it open a little for the Tribe. Ramirez didn’t disappoint the home crowd, taking a 2-2 pitch down the line in left for a three run homer to make it 5-1 Cleveland.
Rodriguez settled in allowing no runs on five hits in the rest of his six inning outing and kept the Red Sox in the game as the visitors would chip away. Martinez hit a solo homer to left field, and Brock Holt drove in Mitch Moreland with a double both in the top of the fourth inning to cut it to 5-3. Jackie Bradley Jr. hit an opposite field solo homer to left field to lead off the seventh to make it a one run game again. Boston had two runners in scoring position with two outs in the eighth but Holt lined out to Santana at first to end that threat. Closer Brad Hand would come in for Cleveland to try to pick up the save in the ninth inning. Mookie Betts worked a one out walk. After Rafael Devers struck out swinging for the second out, Xander Bogaerts tied the game with a double off the right field fence scoring Betts. Martinez was intentionally walked, and with Benintendi batting Bogaerts stole third base to put runners on first and third. However Boston couldn’t take advantage of the situation to possibly take the lead, as Benintendi flied out to deep right center. Santana would make it hurt big time in the bottom of the ninth by drilling a line drive solo homer to left center on a 2-2 pitch from Marcus Walden to end the game. Cleveland (72-47) now takes over first place in the American League Central by 1/2 game over Minnesota who was off Monday night. Boston is 62-59 and has lost 12 of their past 15 games putting them now 8.5 games out of the second wildcard spot.
Rodriguez got a no decision on the mound for the Sox and a final line of 6.0 innings allowing five runs on 10 hits, with three walks and five strikeouts. Darwinzon Hernandez pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, and Walden (7-2) suffered the loss by giving up the Santana game winner. It was the first run allowed in the last seven appearances for Walden. Bogaerts, Martinez, and Moreland all had two hits a piece. Martinez extended his hitting streak to 11 games, and has also reached base in 21 consecutive games. Santana had three hits for the Indians, including the biggest of the game. Reyes, Ramirez, and Tyler Naquin all added two hits a piece. All six of the runs on the night for Cleveland came on homeruns. Zach Plesac started the game on the hill and allowed three runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings. Hand (6-3) was charged with the blown save but also picked up the win in relief.
Boston will try to bounce back from a tough defeat in game two of the series on Tuesday night at 7:10 p.m. Left hander Chris Sale takes the ball for the Sox and will be opposed by righty Mike Clevinger for the Indians.
Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) gets into position as a pitch is about to be thrown at Fenway Park last Thursday night against the LA Angels. Bogaerts doubled in the tying run on Monday night in a tough loss for the Sox in Cleveland against the Indians. Photo courtesy of Delaney Gardner
