Cabrera's 12th-inning blast sends Tribe to sweep of BoSox
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Asdrubal Cabrera clubbed a game-winning, three-run homer in the bottom of the 12th inning and the Cleveland Indians completed a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox with a 7-4 decision on Wednesday at Progressive Field.
Edward Mujica (2-2) replaced Boston closer Koji Uehara to start the bottom of the 12th and served up back-to-back one-out singles to Mike Aviles and Michael Bourn.
Boston then employed a five-man infield in an attempt to keep the game tied, but Cabrera ripped an 0-1 offering over the wall in right to extend Cleveland's season-high winning streak to six games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I was just trying to get the ball down and that pitch was a little mistake," Mujica said of the final pitch to Cabrera.
Carlos Carrasco (1-3) picked up the victory after striking out four over two flawless innings of relief work. Cabrera finished 2-for-5 and scored three times, while David Murphy drove in two runs in the triumph.
"That was a great swing," said Indians manager Terry Francona of Cabrera's final at-bat. "He's been having good at-bats."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}David Ortiz drilled a two-run homer and Brock Holt added two RBI for the Red Sox, who had won seven straight games before being swept by the Tribe.
Ortiz homered off Cleveland starter Corey Kluber in the sixth to give Boston a 2-1 edge, but the Indians answered with three runs in the home half to regain the lead.
Cabrera opened the frame with a walk before Michael Brantley singled to center to put runners on the corners and end Boston starter Brandon Workman's outing.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chris Capuano took over on the mound and was greeted by Jason Kipnis, who ripped a base hit to center to score Cabrera and tie the game. Lonnie Chisenhall then reached on a bunt single to load the bases before Murphy ripped a two-run single to right to give Cleveland a 4-2 lead.
Burke Badenhop promptly replaced Capuano and got Yan Gomes to ground one to third baseman Xander Bogaerts, who fired to the plate and eventually retired Chisenhall following a quick rundown.
Badenhop then induced an inning-ending double-play groundout from Jason Giambi to keep the margin at two.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The double play proved pivotal as Boston responded with two runs in the seventh to retie the tilt. Stephen Drew walked, Daniel Nava singled, and after both runners advanced on Jackie Bradley, Jr.'s sacrifice bunt, Holt ripped a single to center to plate both runners, tying the game at 4-4.
Neither team moved a runner past second from there until the decisive 12th frame.
Early on, Cleveland grabbed a 1-0 lead in the opening frame when Cabrera smacked a one-out single, stole second, and scored on Brantley's single to center.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
The start of the game was delayed 2 hours, 28 minutes due to rain ... Workman, who is currently appealing a six-game suspension for throwing behind Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria on Friday, allowed three runs on four hits over five-plus frames ... Kluber allowed four runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings ... Boston was swept by the Indians for the first time since April 5-7, 2011 ... Boston catcher A.J. Pierzynski was ejected in the sixth inning for arguing balls and strikes ... The Red Sox went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base ... The Indians improved to 30-30 on the season, moving them to .500 for the first time since April 24 (11-11) ... Cleveland has won nine straight home games.