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Cabrera's four RBI fuel Tribe, Red Sox lose again

Apr 7, 2011 - 6:16 AM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBI as Cleveland downed Boston, 8-4, in the middle test of a three-game series.

Shin-Soo Choo added a two-run shot and Matt LaPorta contributed a solo homer for the Indians, who have taken the first two games of the set.

Rafael Perez (1-0) turned in 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the win. Starter Mitch Talbot lasted just 4 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and two runs with seven strikeouts and three walks.

"With a lineup like that ... it gives us confidence to take a series from them," Talbot said of Boston's potent offense.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run home run for the Red Sox, who haven't gone 0-5 to start a season since 1996. Marco Scutaro and Jacoby Ellsbury drove in a run each in defeat.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-1) was charged with six hits and three runs over five frames for the loss.

Talbot was pulled in the fifth after leaving runners on the corners with one out and the Indians clinging to a one-run lead. Chad Durbin came on to fan Kevin Youkilis, then Perez entered and induced an inning-ending groundout from David Ortiz.

Cleveland broke the game open in the sixth on Michael Brantley's fielder's choice RBI and Cabrera's three-run shot to right for a 7-2 contest.

Gonzalez slugged his first home run in a Boston uniform to get the Sox within three in the seventh, but LaPorta started the home eighth with a solo homer and Vinny Pestano retired the Sox in order in the ninth.

Choo's one-out, two-run homer in the first gave the Tribe the early edge.

Scutaro's infield single and Ellsbury's groundout in the second pulled the Red Sox even, but Cabrera stroked a run-scoring single in the home half to restore Cleveland's lead.

Game Notes

Only the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals (101-61) made the World Series after starting 0-4...Since 1995, only two of 128 playoff teams started 0-4, Cincinnati (1995) and Arizona (1999)...The Red Sox have not lost six in a row to begin a season since going 0-8 in 1945...Choo was hitting .063 and was mired in an 0-for-13 slump before homering.