The Red Sox were finished in 12 innings by a walk off home run that ended the game just past 2AM on Thursday with Cleveland taking it 7-4.
After a two and a half hour rain delay that also eliminated the first-pitch ceremony of football first round pick Johnny Manzeil, the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians finally started a ballgame.
Brandon Workman, currently appealing a six game baseball excommunication, took the mound for the suddenly inept Boston Red Sox. Corey Kluber, coming off a remarkable (4-0, 2.09) May, faced off against the penance-seeking Workman for a Wednesday night and early Thursday morning contest at Progressive (Jake) Field.
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Cleveland used the same script in the first inning they have used throughout the series: scoring first.
With one out Asdrubal Cabrera blooped a single to center field that should have been on the dance card for either Stephen Drew or Jackie Bradley. Cabrera promptly stole second and scored as Michael Brantley followed with a shot up the middle for the RBI.
In the last of the fifth the Red Sox did manage a minor victory.
With Yan Gomes on first, via a walk, Mike Aviles grounded a ball in the hole at short. Drew made an exceptional play only to see Aviles called safe. Manager John Farrell challenged and Avilies was ruled out.
In the sixth inning the Red Sox finally got to Kluber.
Jun 4, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) celebrates his two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Xander Bogaerts was hit by a pitch. After a Dustin Pedroia line out, David Ortiz planted a Kluber slider deep into right center for a home run and what was to be a short-lived 2-1 Red Sox lead.
In the bottom of the sixth a rather bizarre ejection took place. A.J. Pierzynski was tossed by home plate umpire, Quinn Walcott, for apparently questioning the wisdom of certain pitch calls by Walcott during a Cabrera at-bat that resulted in a walk. Brantley followed with his third hit of the evening and the Indians had runners at the corners. Enter Chris Capuano for Boston.
Jason Kipnis welcomed Capuano by grounding a run-scoring single up the middle. Lonnie Chisenhall, a thorn for the Red Sox all series, dropped down a bunt to load the bases. The single parade continued as David Murphy lined a single to right for two more runs. Burke Badenhop replaced the ineffective Capuano with runners, again, at the corners and no outs.
Badenhop closed the offensive doors and Cleveland took a 4-2 lead only to have Boston answer back in the top of the seventh.
A Drew walk was followed by a Daniel Nava single. After Bradley managed to lay down a sacrifice bunt that brought up Brock Holt. Holt singled to center and it was a new ballgame at the mid-way point of the seventh.
The evening was over for Workman and Kluber.
Workman finished with five innings allowing three runs on four hits with two walks and three strike outs.
Kluber went 6.1 innings allowing four runs on five hits while walking two and striking out four.
The game now became a battle of the bullpens that would carry into extra innings.
Neither team mounted a significant threat in extra frames until the last of the twelfth when Cleveland put the contest away.
Edward Mujica became the seventh pitcher of the two-day game for Boston and with one out Aviles had an infield single to short. Michael Bourn drilled a single to right sending Aviles to third. The Red Sox then went into run-prevent defense with five infielders as Cabrera stepped up. Cabrera hit it where no infielder or outfielder could get it – the right field stands.
Mujica (2-2) took the loss for Boston and Carlos Carrasco (1-3) got the win for Cleveland with two innings of relief.
Boston moves on to Detroit where Rubby De La Rosa (1-0, 0.00) will face the Tigers’ Drew Smyly (2-4, 4.10).