BOSTON — Franmil Reyes homered over the Green Monster to spark a three-run third inning — Cleveland's franchise-record tying 19th straight game with a home run — and the Indians salvaged the finale of the series with an 11-5 victory over the COVID-impacted Boston Red Sox.
Reyes added a two-run double and went 4 for 4, and Bradley Zimmer had a two-run single for the Indians (68-66), who matched their single-season record streak of homering in consecutive games originally set in May of 2000.
The Red Sox (79-60) scratched scheduled starter Nick Pivetta before the game, placing him on the COVID-19-related injured list. About 30 minutes before the first pitch, they added infielder/outfielder Danny Santana to the list, giving them 11 players — six position and five pitchers — in the last 10 days.
Zach Plesac struck out five in five innings to pick up his 10th win, but allowed three runs in his final frame to help Boston chip away at Cleveland's 6-0 lead. The Sox eventually cut it to 6-5, but the Tribe scored five more in the ninth to remove all doubt.
The Indians will return home on Labor Day for the start of a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins. Lefty Logan Allen (1-5, 6.62 ERA) is slated to start against rookie Bailey Ober (2-2, 3.98).
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