BOSTON – Drew Stubbs and Mark Reynolds drove in three runs each and Cleveland had 16 hits in the Indians’ 12-3 win over the Boston Red Sox in manager Terry “Tito” Francona’s return to Fenway Park on Thursday night.

Francona, let go by Boston after the 2011 season, got a standing ovation after the first inning during a video tribute on the center-field scoreboard. But he didn’t have to leave the visiting dugout during the game because all of Cleveland’s pitching changes came at the start of an inning.

In eight years as manager, Francona led the Red Sox to two World Series championships. In his first year as Cleveland’s manager, he has the Indians in first place in the AL Central after they went 68-94 last season.

They’re 22-9 in their last 31 games.

On Thursday, his team gave him another pleasant Fenway memory.

Zach McAllister (4-3) allowed three runs in five innings. He hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any of his nine starts this year.

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Ryan Dempster (2-5) gave up four runs in three innings in his third straight poor start for Boston.

Every Cleveland starting batter had a hit and all except Jason Kipnis scored. Carlos Santana reached base five times with a single and four walks.

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Stubbs and made it 4-0 in the third, scoring on a two-run single by Reynolds and a force play at second on a grounder by Mike Aviles.

The Red Sox cut that to 4-3 in the third on David Ortiz’s eighth homer of the season but wasted a chance for a bigger inning. Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a single and took second on a walk to Daniel Nava. Dustin Pedroia then singled, but Ellsbury was thrown out at the plate by center fielder Michael Bourn.

Ortiz then hit the next pitch for his three-run homer.

Run-scoring singles by Asdrubal Cabrera in the fourth and Bourn in the fifth made it 6-3 before the Indians scored six runs when they sent 10 men to the plate in the sixth.

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BLUE JAYS 12, ORIOLES 6: Edwin Encarnacion hit his fifth career grand slam, J.P. Arencibia homered and drove in four runs and host Toronto spoiled the debut of Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman.

Brett Cecil and Brad Lincoln each worked one inning of scoreless relief as Toronto won for the third time in four games.

TIGERS 7, TWINS 6: Prince Fielder bounced a tiebreaking single off Jared Burton’s glove in the eighth inning, leading host Detroit to a come-from-behind victory over the Minnesota.

Omar Infante started the inning with a single and was bunted to second by Torii Hunter. Ron Gardenhire then ordered Miguel Cabrera intentionally walked, but Fielder foiled the plan with a grounder that Burton (0-2) deflected past second baseman Brian Dozier.

ANGELS 5, ROYALS 4: Mike Trout and Albert Pujols hit solo home runs, and Mark Trumbo hit a two-run shot to help the Los Angeles win at Kansas City.

Joe Blanton got his first victory of the season after going 0-7 in his first nine starts. He held the Royals to seven hits and two runs in 6 1-3 innings. Trumbo put the Angels up 5-2 in the eighth with his team-leading 11th homer.

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Ervin Santana (3-4), who spent 12 seasons in the Angels’ organization before being traded during the off-season to the Royals, struck out eight without a walk, but allowed five runs and eight hits — four of which were homers. Chris Iannetta hit one in the fifth.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

PIRATES 4, CUBS 2: Andrew McCutchen had three hits and two RBIs to lead host Pittsburgh past Chicago on a rainy Thursday for the Pirates’ fourth straight win.

The Pirates moved a season-best 11 games over .500 with its 11th victory in 13 games.

NOTES

PHILLIES: All-Star second baseman Chase Utley was put on the 15-day disabled list with an oblique strain.

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He is batting .272 with seven homers and 25 RBIs. Freddy Galvis has replaced him in the starting lineup.

MARINERS: Slumping catcher Jesus Montero was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma, a year after acquiring him in 2011 trade from the New York Yankees that hasn’t panned out. He has 72 hours to join the club.

The 23-year-old Montero is hitting .208 with three home runs and nine RBIs.

YANKEES: Injured first baseman Mark Teixeira could soon start playing in minor league games while pitcher Andy Pettitte, who played catch for the first time since going on the 15-day disabled list, is also working his way back to the majors.

ORIOLES: Right-hander Jake Arrieta was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk and designated right-hander Alex Burnett for assignment on Thursday to clear a roster spot for rookie right-hander Kevin Gausman, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft who lost his debut to Toronto.

ROYALS: Struggling reliever Kelvin Herrera was optioned to Triple-A Omaha after going 2-4 with a 4.87 ERA in 19 relief appearances.

 


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