Indians at Red Sox
The Cleveland Indians and Boston had no trouble scoring runs against some of the best pitchers on each team's staff Tuesday, and the Red Sox had the benefit of the last swing. Boston can pull off a three-game sweep of the American League Central-leading Indians when they host the finale on Wednesday.
Cleveland was stymied by Doug Fister in the opener on Monday but pounded Chris Sale and scored the go-ahead run off All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel in the ninth inning on Tuesday, only to watch their own star closer blow it in the bottom of the ninth as Christian Vazquez belted a walk-off homer to give the Red Sox a 12-10 win. The Indians, who have dropped three in a row on the heels of a nine-game winning streak, lead the AL Central by two games over the Kansas City Royals, who are struggling with the Baltimore Orioles this week. The Red Sox are finally beginning to score runs consistently and took back first place in the AL East with Tuesday’s triumph, moving a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees. Boston will send reigning Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello to the mound on Wednesday opposite Cleveland righty Trevor Bauer.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, STO (Cleveland), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (9-8, 5.25 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (4-14, 4.55)
Bauer is coming off a gem against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, when he scattered one run and seven hits over eight innings while striking out six to earn the win. The UCLA product lasted just two-thirds of an inning in his first start after the All-Star break at Oakland on July 16 but won the next two and is trying to find some consistency in the second half. Bauer is seeing Boston for the first time since the AL Division Series last October, when he allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings in the series opener.
Porcello went up against Bauer in that ALDS Game 1 last October and surrendered three home runs among six hits and five earned runs in 4 1/3 innings to suffer the loss. The New Jersey native's struggles with the long ball carried into the 2017 regular season, and his 25 home runs allowed on the season already matches his career high. Porcello is suffering through a stretch of four losses in as many starts and was reached for four runs in seven frames against Kansas City on Friday.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Red Sox placed 2B Dustin Pedroia on the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday due to a lingering knee injury.
2. Cleveland SS Francisco Lindor hit safely in each of his last 12 games.
3. Boston UTIL Eduardo Nunez is 11-for-22 with nine RBIs in five games since joining the team in a trade from the San Francisco Giants.