CLEVELAND -- In the bottom of the fifth inning at Progressive Field on Sunday, Masataka Yoshida made a pivotal blunder when he lost a flyball in the sun that resulted in the Guardians tying the game before taking the lead one batter later.
Two innings later, Yoshida helped make up for his mistake with a go-ahead two-run single off Tim Herrin that was part of a six-run inning that helped push the Red Sox to a 9-4 win and also secured a much-needed series win.
Yoshida’s single was set up by a seven-pitch plate appearance from Wilyer Abreu that resulted in a game-tying bases-loaded walk. While the final pitch that Abreu took looked to catch some of the plate, the Guardians were out of ABS challenges, so all Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges could do was jump around demonstratively as Abreu walked to first base.
The Red Sox blew the game open in the following two batters thanks to a single from Isiah Kiner-Falefa followed by a two-run triple from Caleb Durbin (the first of his career).
Boston jumped out to an early lead on a leadoff home run from Jarren Duran, his second of the season and the 11th of his career.
Ranger Suarez got the start for the Red Sox and tied his season-high with 10 strikeouts, though he only managed to go five innings after allowing eight hits, as he couldn’t recover after Yoshida’s misplay that counted as a José Ramírez double. Boston’s bullpen answered the call in relief, however, as Jovani Morán, Tyron Guerrero, Greg Weissert and Aroldis Chapman closed the door with four scoreless innings.