(Sports Network) - Josh Tomlin tries to pitch the Cleveland Indians to a series win this evening when they wrap up their four-game set with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
After beating the New York Yankees in his major league debut, Tomlin did not get a decision on Saturday in Toronto, but pitched well on short notice, as he allowed just a run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings in his team's 2-1 win.
Tomlin, who has allowed just two runs in 12 1/3 innings of his two starts, was thrust into action shortly before the start of the game in Toronto when scheduled starter Jake Westbrook was traded to St. Louis.
"I found out about it last night," Tomlin said of the trade. "I knew ahead of time it could be a possibility. It wasn't a for-sure deal, so I came in today ready to go just in case."
Cleveland won for the fourth time in five chances on Wednesday when Andy Marte hit a three-run homer as part of a five-run seventh inning in the Indians' 9-1 rout. Jayson Nix added a solo homer and drove in two runs in the win, as the Indians took advantage of three Boston errors to score seven unearned runs.
Justin Masterson (4-10) earned the win by scattering four hits and a run despite walking four over five-plus innings.
"We knew we had a tough pitcher in front of us, and all we asked the team to do was get quality at-bats and run up his pitch count and we did," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "We kept putting pressure on. Every day it is tough against these guys because we have faced three top-of-the-rotation type of arms. We have to give credit to our guys because they really battled hard and we scored enough runs."
A David Ortiz solo homer was the lone offense for the Red Sox, who failed to capitalize on the momentum of Tuesday's 3-1 victory. Jon Lester (11-7) yielded seven hits and four runs -- two earned -- over five-plus frames in defeat.
Hoping to give the Red Sox a win heading into their big weekend series with the New York Yankees will be righty Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is 7-3 with a 4.22 ERA. Matsuzaka did not get a decision on Saturday against Detroit, as he allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings of his team's 5-4 win. He also walked two batters and has issued seven free passes in his last two starts.
Matsuzaka tossed eight scoreless innings to beat the Indians back on June 7 and is 3-1 lifetime against them with a 2.70 ERA in four starts.
Cleveland has split its six games with the Red Sox this season after losing seven of nine to them a season ago.