Final, Indians 3-2: The Red Sox couldn’t generate any ninth-inning magic. Boston went down in order against Cleveland closer Cody Allen.
The Red Sox entered Saturday’s contest on the heels of back-to-back wins. Craig Breslow struggled in the seventh inning, though, and Junichi Tazawa walked in the go-ahead run as the Indians won 3-2.
The game-changing play occurred in the seventh inning, when catcher A.J. Pierzynski was unable to corral a throw home that would have cut down a run at the plate. Cleveland tied the game at two apiece.
Breslow ended up walking David Murphy to load the bases in the seventh following the play at home. The Red Sox turned to Tazawa, who walked Carlos Santana. Three borderline pitches were called balls during the at-bat.
Jake Peavy again didn’t factor into the decision. He allowed one run on seven hits and two walks in what can only be described as a grind.
Mid 9th, Indians 3-2: Koji Uehara made quick work of the Indians in the ninth inning.
Uehara retired Lonnie Chisenhall, Nick Swisher and David Murphy in order. Swisher and Murphy both struck out swinging.
A.J. Pierzynski, Jonathan Herrera and Jackie Bradley Jr. are scheduled to bat against Indians closer Cody Allen in the bottom of the ninth.
End 8th, Indians 3-2: Double plays continue to haunt the Red Sox.
Dustin Pedroia led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a four-pitch walk as Fenway Park came alive.
David Ortiz then jumped ahead in the count 2-0 against Bryan Shaw and quickly found himself in a 3-1 count. Ortiz took a hearty cut and hit a sharp ground ball into the shift. Jason Kipnis snagged it and began a double play that changed the complexion of the inning.
Mike Napoli singled into left field with two outs, but Jonny Gomes popped out to second base to end the frame. The Sox will need some walk-off heroics to win their third straight.
Koji Uehara will pitch the ninth inning with Boston trailing by a run.
Mid 8th, Indians 3-2: Junichi Tazawa and Andrew Miller combined to keep Boston’s deficit at one run in the eighth inning.
Tazawa retired Michael Bourn and Asdrubal Cabrera to begin the inning. He then yielded a single to Michael Brantley, which led to Miller’s entrance.
Miller struck out Jason Kipnis, who has three hits.
The meat of the order — Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Mike Napoli — is due up in the bottom of the eighth inning for Boston.
End 7th, Indians 3-2: Brock Holt did Brock Holt things in the seventh inning, but he was left in scoring position for the second time in this game.
Terry Francona used three pitchers in the seventh inning. Righty John Axford retired Jonathan Herrera on a groundout and lefty Kyle Crockett struck out Jackie Bradley Jr.
Crockett couldn’t handle Holt, though. Holt shot a double into the left field corner with two outs.
Xander Bogaerts had a chance to tie the game, but Bryan Shaw got the rookie to ground to third base to end the inning. Bogaerts now is 3-for-26 with two outs and runners in scoring position this season.
Junichi Tazawa will come back out to begin the eighth inning.
Mid 7th, Indians 3-2: The Red Sox almost cut down a runner at the plate in the seventh inning. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski was unable to hang onto the baseball, though, and the Indians ended up grabbing a lead.
Craig Breslow took over for Jake Peavy in the seventh inning. The left-hander immediately found himself in trouble.
Asdrubal Cabrera and Michael Brantley produced back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners with no outs. Jonathan Herrera actually made a nice diving stop on Cabrera’s ground ball up the middle, but the shortstop couldn’t deliver a throw to first in time to record the out.
Jason Kipnis grounded to second base, at which point Cabrera broke for home. Pedroia fired home, and his throw got there in time, but Pierzynski couldn’t make the catch. Home plate umpire Sean Barber even called Cabrera out until he realized the ball had been dropped.
Breslow rebounded to retire Lonnie Chisenhall and Nick Swisher on a pair of fly ball outs. He walked David Murphy to load the bases, though, and John Farrell turned to Junichi Tazawa to face the switch-hitting Carlos Santana.
Santana walked on five pitches to give Cleveland a 3-2 lead. Taz struck out Yan Gomes to avoid any additional damage.
The book is closed on Peavy, who was in line for a win until Breslow struggled. He’ll now receive yet another no-decision, and this one was a grind from the get-go. Peavy gave up one earned run on seven hits and two walks while striking out five. The right-hander escaped several jams despite surrendering a lone run.
End 6th, Red Sox 2-1: Jonny Gomes just beat out a play at first base, and the Red Sox have a 2-1 lead going into the seventh inning.
Dustin Pedroia led off the bottom of the sixth with a line drive toward the triangle. It got down and bounced up into the stands for a ground-rule double.
David Ortiz followed with a soft grounder in the middle of the infield. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera had to hustle to corral it because the Indians were playing in the shift, but he still was able to throw out Ortiz. Pedroia took third base on the play.
The Tribe turned to John Axford in relief of T.J. House with Mike Napoli digging in. Axford issued a one-out walk to put runners at the corners for Gomes.
Gomes hit a ground ball to short that the Indians looked to turn into a double play. It wasn’t hit too hard, though, and Gomes was able to beat out the throw at first base. Pedroia crossed with Boston’s second run.
Mid 6th, 1-1: Well, Jake Peavy only allowed one runner to advance into scoring position in the sixth inning.
Peavy has battled all day. It continued in the sixth — although to a lesser extent — when Carlos Santana doubled to right field.
Peavy rebounded from Santana’s one-out knock to retire Yan Gomes and Michael Bourn.
End 5th, 1-1:Â The Red Sox stranded Brock Holt in scoring position in the fifth inning.
Holt reached with two outs after Jonathan Herrera and Jackie Bradley Jr. lined out to center field. Holt hit a comebacker that pitcher T.J. House couldn’t field cleanly.
House was charged with an error, although it wouldn’t be surprising if that soon gets changed. It should go as a hit.
Holt almost got picked off, but first baseman Carlos Santana’s throw to second base was off the mark. Holt was credited with a stolen base.
Xander Bogaerts struck out swinging to end the inning.
Mid 5th, 1-1: Jake Peavy is still living on the edge.
Peavy again loaded the bases in the fifth inning. And again, he escaped with no damage inflicted.
Peavy actually recorded two quick outs in the fifth. Michael Bourn struck out swinging, and Asdrubal Cabrera lined out to Brock Holt on the right field warning track.
Things started getting a little hairy after Peavy plunked Michael Brantley and Jason Kipnis lined a single into right field.
Brantley and Kipnis swiped third base and second base, respectively, with Lonnie Chisenhall batting.
Chisenhall assembled a 10-pitch at-bat that ended with a walk. Peavy thought he put away Chisenhall, but home plate umpire Sean Barber called the 10th pitch outside.
Nick Swisher grounded to second base to end the inning and squander another golden opportunity.
End 4th, 1-1: Jonny Gomes has two hits.
The Red Sox couldn’t do anything with Gomes’ second hit in the fourth inning, though. T.J. House kept them off the scoreboard.
Gomes singled with two outs after David Ortiz grounded to first base and Mike Napoli struck out looking on a pitch that caught the bottom of the strike zone.
A.J. Pierzynski grounded to second base to end the inning.
Mid 4th, 1-1: Jake Peavy is living on the edge. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning.
Jason Kipnis (infield single) and Lonnie Chisenhall (walk) reached base to begin the inning. Nick Swisher then dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position.
Peavy struck out David Murphy before plunking Carlos Santana on the ribs to load the bases. The right-hander escaped the jam by getting Yan Gomes to fly out to deep right field.
Credit Brock Holt, too. Holt, playing his first ever game in right field, successfully battled a tough sun to end the inning.
End 3rd, 1-1: The Red Sox squandered a scoring chance in the third.
Jackie Bradley Jr., who is starting to look more comfortable at the plate, singled into left field. Brock Holt then walked.
The Red Sox couldn’t capitalize, though, as Xander Bogaerts grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Boston has grounded into two double plays in this game, with A.J. Pierzynski responsible for the other one.
Dustin Pedroia lined out to end the inning.
Mid 3rd, 1-1: The Indians knotted things up in the third inning.
Michael Bourn singled into center field with one out. He was checked on by the trainer and manager Terry Francona but ultimately remained in the game and scored Cleveland’s first run.
Asdrubal Cabrera doubled into the right field corner. A well-executed relay by Boston prevented a run from scoring in the second inning, but the Indians successfully tested the Red Sox this time around.
Catcher A.J. Pierzynski noticed Cabrera breaking for third on Dustin Pedroia’s throw home, though. He quickly fired to Xander Bogaerts to record the out there.
Michael Brantley lined out to first base, where Mike Napoli made yet another nice, inning-ending snag.
End 2nd, Red Sox 1-0: A double play paved the way for a quick bottom of the second.
Jonny Gomes led off with a single into left field. A.J. Pierzynski took a cut at a 2-0 fastball but rolled it to second base, where Jason Kipnis began the twin killing.
Jonathan Herrera struck out to end the inning.
Mid 2nd, Red Sox 1-0: Jake Peavy escaped a second-and-third jam in the second inning.
Jason Kipnis got the inning started with a single into left-center field. It’s unlikely you’ll see anyone unnecessarily test Jackie Bradley Jr.’s arm anytime soon after Thursday’s display.
Peavy struck out Lonnie Chisenhall, but Nick Swisher, who was activated off the disabled list before the series, ripped a double over Brock Holt’s head in right field. Kipnis rounded third but was subsequently held because of a well-executed relay by Boston.
Peavy retired both David Murphy and Carlos Santana to exit the inning unscathed. Murphy lifted a fly ball to shallow left field, and Santana hit a frozen rope down the first base line that Mike Napoli snagged.
End 1st, Red Sox 1-0: The Red Sox’s offense, which produced 10 runs for the first time all season Friday, is off and running.
Xander Bogaerts singled into left field with one out in the first inning. David Ortiz knocked in Bogaerts from first base with a double off the base of the right field wall.
Ortiz’s RBI double was his 422nd career double with the Red Sox, tying him with Wade Boggs for fourth place on Boston’s all-time list.
Dustin Pedroia also made solid contact in the first inning, driving a ball to the warning track in left-center field.
Mid 1st, 0-0: Jackie Bradley Jr. is just so good in center field.
Bradley capped Jake Peavy’s first inning of work with a running catch in the left-center field gap. It was a difficult play he made look relatively easy.
Peavy struck out Michael Bourn looking to begin his outing. Asdrubal then flied to center field, though he did so in a more routine manner than Michael Brantley did to end the inning.
4:07 p.m.: Michael Bourn fouls off Jake Peavy’s first offering.
4:01 p.m.: Fenway certainly has been friendly of late.
The Red Sox enter Saturday’s game having won a season-long seven straight home games. It’s the club’s longest winning streak at Fenway Park since a nine-game streak from July 5, 2011 through July 24, 2011.
3:49 p.m.: As we prepare for action on Saturday, June 14, just know that Friday’s 10-3 win made the Red Sox 51-30-1 all-time in games played on Friday the 13th. They’ve won their last five.
Spooky, I guess.
3:10 p.m.: Brock Holt’s resume continues to grow.
Holt will play right field Saturday as he continues to bounce around the diamond. Jonny Gomes will play left field with a lefty on the hill in T.J. House. Red Sox manager John Farrell said the decision to start Holt in right field and Gomes in left field stems from Holt’s speed/athleticism and Gomes’ comfort/strong defense playing the left field wall.
Stephen Drew remains out of the Red Sox’s lineup with an oblique injury. He went through a full workout Saturday at Fenway Park that included batting practice and defensive work. The shortstop was encouraged by the progress he has made, but how he responds to the day’s activities will dictate whether he undergoes an MRI and potentially lands on the disabled list.
Jonathan Herrera again will play shortstop in Drew’s absence.
Saturday’s complete lineups are below.
Boston Red Sox (31-36)
Brock Holt, RF
Xander Bogaerts, 3B
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Jonny Gomes, LF
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Jonathan Herrera, SS
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Jake Peavy, RHP (1-4, 4.76 ERA)
Cleveland Indians (33-35)
Michael Bourn, CF
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Michael Brantley, LF
Jason Kipnis, 2B
Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B
Nick Swisher, DH
David Murphy, RF
Carlos Santana, 1B
Yan Gomes, C
T.J. House, LHP (0-1, 5.24 ERA)
2:30 p.m. ET: The Boston Red Sox suddenly have a good thing going. Jake Peavy will look to keep Boston moving in the right direction Saturday against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox, who went 2-7 on their recent nine-game road trip before arriving back at Fenway on Thursday, enter Saturday’s contest on the heels of back-to-back wins. Boston’s offense enjoyed its most productive performance of the season Friday, banging out 11 hits en route to a 10-3 victory over Justin Masterson and Co.
The Red Sox’s offense finally seems to be gaining some stability, and Boston has received contributions from up and down the lineup two nights in a row. Mike Napoli’s return certainly has helped matters, while both Daniel Nava and Jackie Bradley Jr. have shown improvement at the plate.
Jon Lester and John Lackey stepped up the last two nights. On Saturday, the Red Sox will turn to Peavy, who has struggled of late after starting the season off in solid fashion. Peavy, who has just one win in 12 starts, has allowed five or more runs in five of his last six starts. That includes his last outing Monday against the Baltimore Orioles in which he surrendered a season-high three home runs. Peavy has yielded 13 long balls overall this season.
Peavy will face T.J. House, who gave up two runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision on June 3 against the Red Sox. The left-hander allowed five earned runs on six hits over 3 1/3 innings in his last start Monday against the Texas Rangers.
Saturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Tune in on NESN, and keep it right here with NESN.com’s live blog.
