Thanks to a third inning power surge, the Cleveland Indians started off the 2016 ALDS with a bang as they defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-4 Thursday night in the 216.
Things got a little hairy for Trevor Bauer at the start, giving up a lead-off double to Dustin Pedroia, and then Hanley Ramirez scored Pedroia to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
It would have been 2-0 but an overturned call at the plate on Brock Holt kept it to a one run lead.
The Indians answered quickly in the second inning with Lonnie Chisenhall striking a base hit to center, scoring Jose Ramirez to tie it up.
Boston shot back with a solo homer by Andrew Benintendi to take the lead at 2-1,but then the Indians' bats came alive in the third.
Catcher Roberto Perez smacked an opposite-field solo home run to right, stirring the crowd at Progressive Field into a frenzy. Jason Kipnis added a bomb of his own to give the Tribe a 3-2 advantage, and then Francisco Lindor joined the home run derby with a solo shot to right field giving the Indians a 4-2 lead.
Trevor Bauer found himself after that first inning rough patch. He departed after the top of the fifth after surrendering a home run to Sandy Leon to cut the lead to 4-3.
Jason Kipnis added to his night by singling in Roberto Perez in the bottom of the fifth. Kip finished with three hits in the ballgame.
Lefty Andrew Miller came in and did his job, leaving Boston scoreless in two-plus innings of relief.
Manager Terry Francona talked about Miller's performance with the media after the game, talking about going to him early.
"He was up to the task," Francona said. "That's why we got him."
Cody Allen gave up a run in the eighth, but buckled down and closed it out in front of a spirited throng at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.
The Tribe and the Red Sox will play Game 2 at Progressive to Field tomorrow on 1590 WAKR. Pregame will start at 4:07 and Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus will have the play-by-play at 4:38. Corey Kluber and David Price will be matched up in a battle of former Cy Young winners.
