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Indians hit three home runs to keep Boston winless
AP
Photo
Cleveland Indians starter Mitch Talbot pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Wednesday, April 6, 2011, in Cleveland.
Associated Press
CLEVELAND
They don’t have Boston’s bankroll, lineup or lofty expectations.
The Cleveland Indians, though, have something the Red Sox don’t — wins.
Asdrubal Cabrera had four RBIs, Shin-Soo Choo hit a two-run homer, Matt LaPorta added a solo shot and the Indians kept the Red Sox winless on Wednesday night with their third straight victory, 8-4 over one of baseball’s big spenders, who are now 0-5.
In Cleveland, fans may be starting to notice they have a pretty good team — at least one that’s better than the Red Sox right now.
“We can’t get caught up with all their potential Hall of Famers and payroll,” said outfielder Travis Buck, who scored in the Indians’ four-run sixth. “We just go out and play the game.”
Boston hasn’t started this poorly since 1996, and after finishing this series today, the Sox head home to face the rival New York Yankees on Friday.
Reliever Rafael Perez (1-0) worked 11/3 perfect innings for the Indians, who have won three straight and are over .500 for the first time since Sept. 27, 2008.
“The bullpen was fantastic,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “It was a good team effort, but you are never satisfied.”
Cabrera hit a three-run homer off reliever Dan Wheeler to cap a strange sixth inning, when mistakes on the mound and in the field cost the Red Sox four runs.
Cleveland starter Mitch Talbot struck out seven and held the Red Sox to two runs and five hits in 41/3 innings. Acta didn’t take any chances when the right-hander got into trouble the fifth, pulling him with one out and runners at the corners.
Chad Durbin came in and struck out Youkilis before Acta brought in Perez, a left-hander, who retired David Ortiz on a routine grounder.