The Cleveland Indians (52-60) won their second game in a row on Thursday night, beating the Boston Red Sox (55-58), 5-3 in the opening game of a four-game weekend series at Progressive Field.
Starter Ubaldo Jimenez (9-11) earned the win for the Tribe, after giving up three runs on eight hits while posting a season-high ten strikeouts.
After Jason Donald, filling in for an injured Jason Kipnis, led off the game with a home run, the Red Sox rallied to take a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth. But the Tribe answer in the bottom of the fifth with three runs, thanks to run-scoring hits by Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana. Closer Chris Perez locked up the win for Cleveland to log his 30th save of the season.
Left-hander Felix Doubront (10-6) took the loss for Boston after giving up four runs in four and a third innings. The two teams resume the series on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. ET.
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