Pro Sports

Dever's 4 hits back Fister as Red Sox beat Indians, 6-2

Posted July 31, 2017 7:00 am

By KEN POWTAK

Boston Red Sox's Mookie Betts, right, beats a pick-off tag by Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana as he dives back safely to first during the second inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Monday, July 31, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) - Doug Fister took a shutout into the eighth inning, rookie Rafael Devers went 4 for 4 and drove in a run and the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 6-2 on Monday night.

Mookie Betts stopped his mini-slump by driving in three runs with two singles, and Eduardo Nunez added three hits and two RBIs for the Red Sox, who won for the third time in nine games.

Bradley Zimmer hit a two-run homer for AL Central-leading Cleveland, which lost its second straight after a season-high nine-game winning streak.

Fister (1-5), claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on June 23, was pulled after giving up Zimmer's homer with two outs in the eighth. He allowed two runs and five hits, walking two and striking out five.

Brandon Workman got the final four outs.

Mike Clevinger (5-4) gave up five runs on seven hits in three innings.

Betts, the runner-up for last season's AL MVP award, flied out with the bases loaded to end a loss Sunday and was 3 for his last 27 without an RBI.

Before the game, both clubs beat the non-waiver trade deadline and added bullpen help. The Red Sox picked up right-hander Addison Reed from the Mets for three 22-year-old right-handed pitching prospects.

The Indians acquired righty Joe Smith from Toronto for two minor leaguers.

Betts' two-run single sparked a three-run second. He scored on Nunez's double.

In the fourth, Betts added another RBI single, and Nunez added a run-scoring single.

Devers' RBI single made it 6-0 in the seventh.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Indians: 2B Jason Kipnis (hamstring) and OF Lonnie Chisenhall (calf) are both working back from injuries so the club concentrated on bullpen help. "We're in a little bit of a unique spot where we have a couple of guys coming back," manager Terry Francona said.

Red Sox: 2B Dustin Pedroia missed his third straight game because of a sore left knee. Manager John Farrell said the improvement has been "slight" and he's scheduled to see a specialist Tuesday. GM Dave Dombrowski said: "The problem with Dustin is he has a bad knee. He's had it for years and he's had to have to deal with that."

LINEUP SHIFT

The Red Sox moved 3B Devers from the bottom of the order to sixth. "Slot him up two, three spots to take a different look," Farrell said.

Xander Bogaerts was dropped to seventh and Mitch Moreland eighth.

DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS

The Indians finished July 15-11 for their seventh straight month over .500.

Boston, though, went 13-14 for its first under .500 this season.

ROSTER MOVES

The Indians placed RHP Josh Tomlin on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring and recalled LHP Tyler Olson from Triple-A Columbus.

Tomlin (7-9, 5.38 ERA) was injured in his start Sunday against the White Sox.

The 27-year-old Olson is up for the second time this season.

UP NEXT

Indians: Carlos Carrasco (10-4, 3.58) is set to start the second game of the series. He's 7-2 with a 2.87 ERA in 11 road starts this season.

Red Sox: LHP Chris Sale (13-4, 2.37) takes his major-league leading 211 strikeouts and a 12-2 record into his last 16 starts to the mound Tuesday. He hasn't allowed a run in his last three games.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Boston Red Sox's Mookie Betts connects for a two-RBI single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park, Monday, July 31, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) The Associated Press

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Doug Fister delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park, Monday, July 31, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) The Associated Press

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Mike Clevinger, top right, strikes out Boston Red Sox's Mookie Betts, front left, during the first inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Monday, July 31, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) The Associated Press

Boston Red Sox's Mitch Moreland is congratulated by teammates after scoring on a two-RBI single by Mookie Betts during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park, Monday, July 31, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) The Associated Press

Boston Red Sox's Brock Holt, right, is tagged out by Cleveland Indians catcher Yan Gomes while trying to score on a double by Eduardo Nunez during the second inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Monday, July 31, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) The Associated Press

Cleveland Indians left fielder Michael Brantley leaps for but cannot make the play on a double by Boston Red Sox's Eduardo Nunez during the seventh inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Monday, July 31, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) The Associated Press

Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona, center, looks down at the pitcher's mound as he takes relief pitcher Shawn Armstrong (51) out of a baseball game in the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Monday, July 31, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) The Associated Press

Cleveland Indians' Bradley Zimmerman, right, is congratulated by Yan Gomes (7) after his two-run home run off Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Doug Fister during the eighth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Monday, July 31, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) The Associated Press

Cleveland Indians' Bradley Zimmerman watches the flight of his two-run home run off Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Doug Fister during the eighth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Monday, July 31, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) The Associated Press

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