Red Sox rock Bieber, Indians

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The Boston Red Sox went 86 years between World Series titles, and are now on the cusp of eclipsing an even older milestone.

Sam Travis and Tzu-Wei Lin hit their first major league home runs and the Red Sox tied a team record more than a century old with their 105th win, beating the Indians 7-5 Friday night.

The AL East champion Red Sox (105-49), playing without several of their regulars, matched the club mark set in 1912.

Boston’s magic number to have home-field advantage throughout the postseason was also reduced to one.

Trevor Bauer took a step toward being in Cleveland’s postseason rotation, pitching 11/3 scoreless innings in his first appearance since breaking his right leg on Aug. 11. He was 12-6 with a 2.22 ERA when was struck on the lower leg by a line drive hit by Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox.

“It’s been a frustrating five and a half weeks for me not being able to be out there,” Bauer said. “It’s definitely nice to get back in a game situation, especially jumping back in against a team like the Red Sox. They’ve been the best team in baseball this year.”

Boston ace Chris Sale, being eased back into the rotation after recent shoulder trouble, struck out seven in 31/3 innings. He allowed two runs in his third start back from the disabled list.

Josh Donaldson homered off Sale in the fourth, ending the lefty’s 35-inning consecutive scoreless streak. It was the first homer off Sale in 75 innings.

Donaldson’s homer on a 1-2 pitch landed in the left field bleachers and was his second with the Indians and seventh of the season.

Matt Barnes (6-3) pitched a scoreless sixth and Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth for his 42nd save.

Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. were out of Boston’s lineup. Rafael Devers homered and Travis, who had three RBIs, for the Red Sox, who used a four-run seventh to erase a 4-2 deficit.

Shane Bieber (10-5) allowed six runs in 42/3 innings.

Bauer allowed two hits, walked one and struck out J.D. Martinez, the major league RBIs leader. He threw 34 pitches — 17 strikes — and was pulled after allowing one-out singles to Steve Pearce and Brock Holt in the second.

Bauer is scheduled to start Tuesday against the White Sox and will pitch in Kansas City next weekend.

“The health, the feeling in the ankle, has been better,” Bauer said. “So everything’s trending in a very positive direction.”

UP NEXT

RHP Rick Porcello (17-7, 4.30 ERA), the team leader in wins, starts Saturday for Boston. RHP Mike Clevinger (12-8, 3.06 ERA) starts against the Red Sox for the first time this season.