CLEVELAND
Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run homer with one out in the 12th inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 7-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox early Thursday and a three-game sweep of the defending World Series champions.
With two runners on and Boston playing five infielders, Cabrera drove an 0-1 pitch from Edward Mujica (2-2) into Boston’s bullpen as the Indians won their sixth straight overall and ninth in a row at home. Cleveland is an AL-best 21-11 at Progressive Field.
Cabrera slid into home plate with his fifth homer and was doused with water by his teammates, who were relieved to finally end a game that didn’t finish until 2:02 a.m.
The start of the game, originally set for 7:05 p.m., was delayed by rain until 9:33 p.m., cancelling a scheduled ceremonial first pitch by Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel, who flashed his signature “money” gesture when he and his teammates were introduced to the crowd.
With practice on Thursday, Manziel ducked out early and wasn’t around when the game ended with just a few thousand die-hard fans in the seats.
Carlos Carrasco (1-3), the Indians’ seventh pitcher, worked two innings.
The surging Indians have trimmed seven games off first-place Detroit’s lead in the AL Central in 17 days. Cleveland is within 3.5 games and back to .500 for the first time since April 24.
David Ortiz homered for the Red Sox, who came in riding a seven-game winning streak but are now headed in the wrong direction.
Trailing 4-2 and in danger of leaving town winless, the Red Sox tied it in the seventh inning when they chased Indians starter Corey Kluber on Brock Holt’s tworun single.
Kluber, who was so dominant in May going 4-0 with 60 strikeouts in 43 innings, walked Stephen Drew to start the seventh and Daniel Nava singled. Jackie Bradley Jr., sacrificed and Holt followed with his game-tying base hit to center.
Kluber got a no- decision and remained unbeaten in seven starts since April. He allowed four runs and five hits in 6.1 innings.
Michael Brantley had three hits off Boston starter Brandon Workman, who pitched while appealing a six-game suspension for throwing at Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria last week. Workman gave up three runs in five innings.
Ortiz’s 13th homer gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead in the sixth. Kluber blanked Boston over the first five innings but opened the sixth by hitting Xander Bogaerts in the right elbow. Ortiz ripped a fastball over the fence in right-center — a 422-foot shot — to give the Red Sox their first lead of the series.
• Who: Boston Red Sox at Detroit
Tigers.
• Where: Comerica Park.
• When: 7:08 p.m. Friday.
• Starting pitchers: Boston (Rubby
De La Rosa 1-0) at Seattle (Dru
Smyly 2-4).
• TV: NESN.
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