Indians vs. Red Sox Preview
BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Red Sox have the best record in the American League, but they continue to struggle against Asdrubal Cabrera and the Cleveland Indians.
Josh Beckett will try to help the Red Sox bounce back following another big night from Cabrera as the teams continue their series at Fenway Park on Tuesday night.
Boston (66-41) lost for only the seventh time in its last 28 games Monday, falling 9-6 to Cleveland. Cabrera hit a two-run home run – his second of the night – to break a 5-all tie in the eighth inning.
According to MLB odds and oddsmakers from online sports book Bodog have made the Red Sox -248 money line favorites for Tuesday’s game against the Indians. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 80% of more than 692 bets for this game have been placed on the Red Sox -248.
The Red Sox’s AL East lead over New York slipped to one game. Boston, which had been 39-5 when scoring at least six runs, has been in first place since July 7.
Cabrera’s second homer snapped reliever Daniel Bard’s scoreless streak at 26 1-3 innings.
“Streak or no streak, we’ve just got to move forward,” Bard said.
It could be tough for the Red Sox to keep their spot atop the standings if Cabrera continues to hit as well as he has in the season series. The Indians shortstop is 10 for 27 against Boston with four homers and 11 RBIs, helping Cleveland win five of seven.
Cabrera’s previous career high was six homers, but he has 19 this year.
“It all starts with Asdrubal,” manager Manny Acta said. “Asdrubal is the one that gets us going like he has all year.”
The Indians had averaged 2.1 runs and hit .190 while dropping eight of 10 before Monday’s win. Rookie Jason Kipnis doubled his hit total for the year, going 3 for 5 with a double and his second homer in as many games.
The Indians (54-52) are within two games of first-place Detroit in the AL Central, but they haven’t won consecutive games in Boston in the same series since 2005.
Ending that drought may be difficult against Beckett (9-4, 2.17 ERA), who has the third-lowest ERA in the majors.
Beckett wasn’t as sharp in his last outing, however, giving up four runs – three earned – in seven innings of a 4-3 loss to Kansas City on Thursday. He gave up all the runs in the fourth inning, including a three-run homer after walking the first two batters.
It was Beckett’s first loss at home, raising his ERA in nine starts at Fenway to 1.88. He was previously 4-0 there.
This is Beckett’s third start against the Indians this year, but first in Boston. He split the two outings in Cleveland, surrendering four runs while walking seven in 11 2-3 innings.
Cabrera is 4 for 13 with two doubles against Beckett while Travis Hafner is 6 for 17 with four extra-base hits and four walks. Hafner also homered Monday.
The Indians will counter with David Huff (1-1, 0.71), who was the losing pitcher in Ervin Santana’s no-hitter Wednesday. Huff, making his second start in the majors this year, allowed two runs in 5 2-3 innings of the 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
The left-hander lost two starts against Boston last year, but gave up just three earned runs in 11 1-3 innings.
Huff may want to pitch cautiously to Carl Crawford, who had a double and the third homer in his last four games against the Indians on Monday. However, Crawford is hitting just .144 against lefties.
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