Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-2 Thursday for just their fifth win in 20 games.
Triston McKenzie, a Cleveland starter who had allowed a total run in four starts in July, took a one-hit shutout into the sixth inning. But two rivals reached base with one out, before Bogaerts arrived.
The shortstop found an 0-2 slider and put the ball into center field, turning a one-run deficit into a 3-1 lead.
Boston scored another run off McKenzie, who hadn’t allowed an extra-base hit all month. Dominican Franchy Cordero opened the seventh inning with a double and scored on a powerful line drive by Bobby Dalbec, who crashed the ball into the “Monstruo Verde”.
All told, McKenzie (7-7) allowed six hits and walked one in seven innings. He fell for the first time since June 27. He was 3-0 with a staggering 0.34 ERA in his previous four starts.
Jake Diekman (2-0) retired all four of his opponents, striking out two, in relief of starter Kutter Crawford.
For the Guardians, the Dominicans Amed Rosario 4-0, José Ramírez 4-1 with a home run 20, one scored and one produced, the 80th, Franmil Reyes 4-0. The Venezuelan Andrés Giménez 3-0.
For the Red Sox, Mexican Alex Verdugo 4-2 with a run scored. Puerto Rican Christian Vázquez 4-0. The Dominican Cordero 3-1 with a run scored.
