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CLEVELAND -- Indians manager Terry Francona likes to talk about grind-it-out wins. Pittsburgh Steelers Jersey . Tuesday nights 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox fit that category perfectly. Michael Bourns two-run double in the seventh inning snapped a 3-all tie and extended Clevelands winning streak to a season-high five straight games. The Indians scored three runs on five straight hits in the first off Jake Peavy, but couldnt add to the lead and the Red Sox tied the game in the seventh. The deadlock didnt last long. "We played a good game," Francona said. "I thought we had to. We strung together a number of hits (in the first), then youre kind of hanging on for dear life. When they tied it, we came back." Cleveland (29-30) can get back to .500 for the first time since April 24 if it can complete a three-game sweep Wednesday. The Indians have made up six games in the AL Central standings since May 18 and trail first-place Detroit by 4 1-2 games. Francona always stresses to his players to take things one day at a time. "Thats the only way you can dig yourself out of a hole," he said. "It can look so daunting when you look too far in advance, but when you take care of what youre supposed to do that day, all of a sudden things can mount in a good way." The Red Sox have lost two straight after winning seven consecutive games. That streak was preceded by a 10-game losing streak. Nick Hagadone (1-0) struck out three in 1 1-3 innings. Cody Allen recorded the final four outs for his fifth save, striking out former Indians All-Star Grady Sizemore, pinch-hitting for Jonny Gomes, to end the game. Allen also retired Sizemore for the final out in Mondays 3-2 win. "Obviously, they have some very good hitters," Allen said. "Theyre the defending world champions. Thats a veteran group. They have a lot of wins over there." Peavy (1-3) allowed five runs in 6 1-3 innings. The right-hander, who hasnt won since April 25, gave up three runs in the first, but held the Indians scoreless until the seventh. David Murphy walked to start the inning and Yan Gomes singled. Peavy threw out Murphy at third on Mike Aviles sacrifice attempt, leaving runners at first and second. Andrew Miller relieved, but Bourn doubled off the lefty over the head of Gomes in left field to score both runners. "Bournie had a really good at-bat," Francona said. "Thats not a fun lefty to face from the left side." Bourn, who hit a walk-off homer Sunday against Colorado, is 8 for 19 with five RBIs in Clevelands winning streak. The Indians are 20-11 at Progressive Field, the best home record in the AL. The Indians opened the game with five straight singles. Michael Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall had RBI hits. The third run scored when Ryan Raburn hit into a double play. Peavy, who was 0-2 with a 5.89 ERA in six starts last month, retired 14 in a row at one point, a stretch that ended with Chisenhalls two-out single in the seventh. "This is a tough one to lose," Peavy said. "I dont know if Ive ever started a game with five straight hits. Tonight was a grind." Xander Bogaerts hit a solo homer with one out in the third. Jonathan Herreras sixth-inning single cut the lead to 3-2. Bogaerts started the seventh with a double off Scott Atchison and scored when Dustin Pedroia doubled. Hagadone, called up from Triple-A Columbus on Monday, struck out A.J. Pierzynski and Alex Hassan with two on to end the inning. Cleveland starter T.J. House allowed two runs in 5 2-3 innings. NOTES: Boston pitcher Brandon Workman appealed a six-game suspension imposed by Major League Baseball on Tuesday for throwing near the head of Tampa Bay star Evan Longoria last week. Workman can play until the appeal process is complete, and is expected to make his scheduled start Wednesday night in the series finale. ... Indians 3B/C Carlos Santana (concussion) took batting practice and ran the bases Tuesday. He could be activated Friday. .... Boston C Ryan Lavarnway (fractured left wrist) underwent surgery Tuesday in Cleveland to remove his hamate bone. Manager John Farrell expects a five-to-seven week recovery period before baseball activities take place. ... 1B Nick Swisher (sore left knee) could go on a minor-league rehab assignment next week. He has begun to play catch and is scheduled to start hitting in a couple of days. ... Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel will throw out the first pitch Wednesday. Cameron Heyward Jersey . Stairs, who holds the major-league record with 23 pinch-hit home runs, was a disappointment for the Nationals. The 43-year-old batted just .154 with two RBIs in 56 games. He was 6 for 39 as a pinch hitter. Custom Steelers Jersey . The All-Star point guard, sidelined for the past six months with a knee injury, was set to return to the Oklahoma City Thunder lineup for Sunday nights home game against the Phoenix Suns, weeks earlier than expected.RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin and cornerback Brandon Browner will both be out for Sundays game at San Francisco, coach Pete Carroll said Friday. The decision to hold the pair out isnt surprising, although the Seahawks were hopeful both would make progress coming back from injuries this week. Browner has been out since Week 10 with a groin injury suffered against Atlanta, while Harvin continues to deal with soreness in his comeback from hip surgery. Harvin made his season debut in Week 11 against Minnesota but has been unable to get back on the field since. Carroll said that next week -- with Seattle having a full week of preparations -- will be important in Harvins recovery. "Were looking forward to next week being a really important week. We think we got a shot at it. So its important for us to go ahead," Carroll said. "I dont care about making that statement now that were hoping for us is a big week for us with him. Itll be kind of week-to-week in a sense as we go forward." Browner was ahead of schedule in his recovery from a groinn injury. Mens Autographed Troy Polamalu Elite Black Jersey. . Carrroll said this week they initially believed it would be six weeks before Browner had a chance to return, but he practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday. He did not practice either Thursday or Friday. "We didnt make much progress there. So we did not bring him back out," Carroll said. Outside linebacker Bruce Irvin will be able to play after missing two days of practice this week with a thigh injury. He was a full participant in Fridays practice. The only other concern for Seattle is backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who missed the last two days of practice with an illness. Carroll also said that James Carpenter will start at left guard against the 49ers. Carpenter and Paul McQuistan had been rotating at the position the past few weeks. "Hes earned that shot to do that and weve told him a couple of weeks ago wed be in this type of rotation to give these guys a chance to really battle," Carroll said. "I love the fact that here we are, this late in the season, that were still competing for spots." ' ' ' |
