Red Sox rout Tribe amid front-office changes

Associated Press

BOSTON

The Boston Red Sox continued a minor resurgence as owner John Henry made a major shake-up in the front office.

The Red Sox routed the Cleveland Indians 9-1 on Tuesday night, a victory that was overshadowed before it ended with the club’s late announcement that Dave Dombrowski was hired to take over baseball operations for general manager Ben Cherington.

“We are responsible for the situation,” said David Ortiz, who had two doubles and drove in a run. “Sometimes that requires new moves, sometimes it doesn’t and I guess they just went for that.”

Although the Red Sox have been winning of late, Boston is in danger of finishing last in the AL East for the third time in four seasons.

The Red Sox won for the fourth time in five games the same day manager John Farrell started chemotherapy for a treatable form of cancer that will keep him out for the rest of the season.

“It’s been an awkward week to say the least, starting obviously with John’s news,” said bench coach Torey Luvullo, who is acting manager while Farrell is on medical leave. “We just got through that. We’re moving forward from that and then today’s news. It’s been tough.”

On the bright side, the Red Sox are finally hitting and giving pitchers plenty of run support. Travis Shaw went 4 for 4 and Brock Holt had three hits and two RBIs for the Red Sox, who knocked around five Cleveland pitchers for 16 hits.

Eduardo Rodriguez (7-5) pitched eight solid innings, allowing one run and six hits while striking out five and not walking a batter.

Cleveland’s only run came on Michael Brantley’s homer in the seventh.

Trevor Bauer (9-10) was pulled early from a second straight start for the Indians. Bauer, who lasted just 31/3 innings against the Yankees on Thursday, was gone before the end of the second on Tuesday after the Red Sox tagged him for six hits — four for extra bases.

Three were doubles, including one by Betts with the bases loaded on a line drive over the head of left fielder Ryan Raburn that put Boston up 4-0. Holt, who tripled in the first, followed with a single to drive in Betts.

“He’s fighting it right now. I think we all know that,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. “When they’re going real good and you feel good and you’re confident and you’re throwing pitches with conviction. And I think right now he’s probably second-guessing himself a little bit.”

NO TIP?

Bauer was unhappy after Betts cleared the bases with his double off the Green Monster. Bauer felt Betts missed while swinging on a foul tip that ended up in catcher Roberto Perez’s glove.

“It looked like strike three,” Bauer said. “I guess the umpire said he nicked it and it hit the ground first.”

UP NEXT

Indians: RHP Corey Kluber (8-12) is coming off his second straight complete-game victory, a one-hitter over the Twins on Friday.

Red Sox: Joe Kelly (5-6) has won three straight starts. Kelly allowed one run and four hits over six innings Friday in a 15-1 win over Seattle.