The Red Sox are off their worst start since 1945, when they lost a team-record eight straight. Boston, favored by many to win the World Series, returns to Fenway Park for its home opener Friday against the New York Yankees.
Asdrubal Cabrera‘s suicide-squeeze bunt put the Indians ahead in their fourth straight victory.
David Ortiz drew a two-out walk in the Boston ninth and McDonald ran for him. J.D. Drew bounced a single that ricocheted off pitcher Chris Perez and went to third baseman Adam Everett.
McDonald rounded second base too far, fell down and tried to scramble back to the bag. Everett, who had come in to field the carom, made a snap throw to second baseman Orlando Cabrera that nailed McDonald.
Cleveland swept the three-game series, which came after Texas swept the Red Sox to open the year.
Starting pitchers Fausto Carmona of the Indians and Jon Lester each bounced back from rocky outings on opening day to pitch seven shutout innings.
Lester gave up three hits, walked three and struck out nine. He allowed five runs, including a career-high three homers, in 5 1-3 innings against Texas.
Carmona held Boston to two singles. The right-hander struck out four and walked two. Carmona allowed 10 runs on 11 hits in three innings against Chicago last week.
Everett drew a walk from Daniel Bard (0-2) to start the eighth. Everett stole second and took on Orlando Cabrera‘s sacrifice bunt. On a 2-1 count, Asdrubal Cabrera bunted down the third-base line, scoring Everett.
Rafael Perez (2-0) retired two batters in the eighth. Chris Perez pitched the ninth for his second save.
The Red Sox, who have been outscored 38-16 this season, managed only four hits against four Cleveland pitchers. The Indians won with just three hits.
This is the third time the Red Sox have started out 0-6 – it also happened in 1927 and 1905.
Notes
The Red Sox play their next 10 games at home. Boston plays three games against the Yankees, three against Tampa Bay and four against Toronto. … OF Michael Brantley and DH Travis Hafner weren’t in Cleveland’s lineup. Travis Buck started in center field while Shelley Duncan was the DH, his first start of the season.