The 3-2 loss to the Indians at Fenway Park Saturday afternoon snapped the Red Sox seven-game home winning streak. They fell to 8-15 in one-run games, 23-9 when scoring first, and 21-2 when leading after six innings.
The Indians snapped a four-game losing streak, improving to 11-8 in one runs games and 14-8 in games decided in the seventh inning or later.
Junichi Tazawa walked Carlos Santana with the bases loaded in the seventh inning tor force in the winning run. It was the first time in 17 bases-loaded situations in his career Tazawa has issued a walk with the bases loaded. It was the first go-ahead walk for the Indians in the seventh inning or later since Ezequiel Carrera did so in the seventh inning on Aug. 26,2011, against the Royals.
Starter Jake Peavy matched his season-low with one run allowed. He has averaged 3.19 runs of support (31 runs in 87 1/3 innings). Entering today, that was the second-lowest in the American League. Peavy held the Indians hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position, lowering his opponents average in such situations to .230 (20-for-87).
David Ortiz went 1-for-4 with a double, the 422nd of his career with the Red Sox, tying him with Wade Boggs for fourth on the teams all-time list. He is within six extra-base hits of 1,000 for his career.
Playing right field for the first time in his professional career, Brock Holt went 2-for-3 with a walk, three putouts, and an assist. He has reached base in 21 of 23 starts hitting leadoff, hitting .346, going 36-for-104. He stole his fourth base of the season in the fifth inning. Since May 31, he has hit safely in 13 of 14 games, batting .387, going 24-for-62, with six doubles, a triple, a home run, and eight RBI. Of his 14 extra-base hits this season, nine have been against left-handers. He is hitting .377, going 23-for-61 against lefties.
In his last six games, Jackie Bradley, Jr., is batting .300, going 6-for-20.
Mike Napoli went 1-for-3 with a walk and is hitting .374, going 9-for-24 in his last seven games since coming off the disabled list. He has reached base in all 27 home games, going 32-for-98, batting .327.
Koji Uehara retired the Indians in order in the ninth with two strikeouts. It was his 18th straight scoreless appearance since May 3, a span of 19 innings. He has allowed an opponents’ average of .119, 7-for-59, in that span.
The Sox went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, leaving seven runners on.
The Indians went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position, leaving 13 runners on.
The Sox grounded into three double plays.
Manager John Farrell said Stephen Drews ailing left oblique checked out fine, and the shortstop will be available for the series finale on Sunday.
Right-hander Clay Buchholz made a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket Saturday afternoon, going 4 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on four hits with no walks, five strikeouts, and two home runs. He threw 62 pitches, 42 for strikes.
Will Middlebrooks began his rehab assignment in the same game. Serving as the designated hitter, batting third, he went 1-for-3.
Shane Victorino also began his rehab assignment in that game, playing right field, batting second. He went 0-for-2.
Left-hander Felix Doubront is scheduled to make a rehab start for the PawSox on Sunday.