Logan Allen quieted the bats of the Boston Red Sox through 6.0 strong innings Friday night, but Jonathan Arauz hit a go ahead three-run homerun in the eighth inning to propel Boston to a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
Jose Ramirez staked Cleveland (63-63) to a 2-0 lead when he took Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez deep for a two-run homerun in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was the 30th homer for Ramirez. The Sox got on the board thanks to a hit batsman and an error in the fifth. Alex Verdugo would come across to score on a double play ball hit by Christian Vazquez to slice the margin to a run. Yu Chang extended the advantage back to a pair for the Indians with a solo homerun in the seventh. The guests did their damage in the eighth off Cleveland reliever James Karinchak. Vazquez walked and then Jarren Duran singled to start the inning. Arauz was up next and tried twice to lay down a bunt to advance the runners, but couldn’t get it done. Instead, Arauz took a 3-2 pitch from Karinchak and lined it into the right field bleachers for a game winning three-run homer. It was just his second career MLB homerun.
Rodriguez (10-7) who left the game trailing 3-1 would end up getting the win allowing three runs on eight hits in 7.0 innings. Garrett Richards continued his solid work out of the bullpen with a perfect eighth inning for a hold with two strikeouts, and Adam Ottavino got his ninth save walking one and striking out two in the ninth. Boston (74-56) was held to just three hits on the night. Ramirez had three hits for Cleveland, and Bradley Zimmer had two. Allen in his no decision only allowed one hit with one walk and five strikeouts. Karinchak (7-4) took the loss and the blown save. Game two of the series is set for a 4:05 p.m. first pitch on Saturday with Nathan Eovaldi (10-8, 3.72 ERA) on the hill for the Red Sox. The Indians will counter with Cal Quantrill (4-2, 3.04).
