Field Level Media
Sep 23, 2018
Greg Allen delivered a walk-off single to left field with one out in the 11th inning as the host Cleveland Indians edged the Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Sunday night at Progressive Field.
Allen drove in Jose Ramirez from third with his bases-loaded bouncing single through the drawn-in infield as Cleveland thwarted Boston's attempt to win a club-record 106th game for the second consecutive game. The Red Sox (105-51) also failed to clinch home-field advantage through the playoffs.
Mookie Betts was 4-for-6 with his 31st home run and two runs scored for Boston.
Ramirez led off the 11th with a walk against Boston right-handed reliever William Cuevas (0-2) and was sacrificed to second by Rajai Davis. Erik Gonzalez reached when Red Sox shortstop Tzu-Wei Lin fumbled his grounder, and Cuevas was pulled in favor of left-handed Robby Scott.
Yandy Diaz was called on to pinch-hit for Yonder Alonso and was walked intentionally. Allen completed his eight-pitch at-bat with the decisive single.
Indians right-hander Josh Tomlin (2-5) gave up one hit in two scoreless innings.
The Red Sox were 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 13 runners.
Cuevas pitched 4 1/3 hitless innings until Jason Kipnis doubled with one out in the 10th. Overall, the rookie gave up two hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked three.
Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts departed in the seventh inning due to left shoulder soreness. He was removed for precautionary reasons, according to the Red Sox.
The Indians (87-68) tallied three times in the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead. Edwin Encarnacion drove in the first run with a single for his 100th RBI, reaching the mark for the sixth time in the past seven years.
Cleveland had runners at second and third with two outs later in the inning, and switch-hitting Melky Cabrera elected to bat from the right side against right-handed knuckleballer Steven Wright. The strategy paid off when Cabrera placed a ball down the right field line for a two-run double.
Boston tied the score in the top of the fifth when Betts slugged a 3-2 pitch over the fence in center.
Indians starter Adam Plutko gave up three runs and five hits over six innings. He walked three and struck out two.
Red Sox starter Hector Velazquez was charged with two runs in 3 1/3 innings. He gave up four hits and struck out three without issuing a walk.
Betts led off the game with a double and scored later in the inning on Plutko's wild pitch. The Red Sox added another run in the third on an infield out.
--Field Level Media