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Indians squeeze by Boston to keep Sox winless

Apr 7, 2011 - 10:03 PM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Asdrubal Cabrera squeezed home Adam Everett with the game's only run in the bottom of the eighth inning, as the Cleveland Indians completed a three-game sweep and kept Boston winless on the season with a 1-0 victory at Progressive Field.

Everett started the winning rally with a walk from Boston reliever Daniel Bard (0-2) and stole second before taking third on a sacrifice by Orlando Cabrera. Everett broke for home on a 2-1 pitch and Asdrubal Cabrera dropped down a perfect bunt along the third-base line to score the runner.

Chris Perez then retired Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis on ground balls to start the ninth inning before David Ortiz drew a walk. J.D. Drew followed with a hard bouncer that glanced off Perez on the mound and went to Everett at third base. He had no play at first, but pinch-runner Darnell McDonald slipped as he rounded second base and Everett threw to the bag to get McDonald as he tried to scramble back.

"I lost my footing and tried to get back" said McDonald. "I thought I might have got in there, but I didn't. I was just trying to make something happen and it didn't work out."

The Indians last swept a three-game series from the Red Sox from August 28-30, 2001. Boston, meanwhile, fell to 0-6 for the first time since starting the 1945 season with eight consecutive defeats. The Red Sox will head back to Boston for their home opener on Friday afternoon against the arch-rival New York Yankees.

Both starters were brilliant. Jon Lester went the first seven innings for Boston, allowing just three hits with three walks and nine strikeouts. Cleveland's Fausto Carmona also went seven and limited the Red Sox to a pair of hits while walking two and fanning four.

Rafael Perez (2-0) notched the win, retiring two batters in the eighth to quiet a Boston threat. Chris Perez earned his second save.

"We played some good defense, especially up the middle," said Indians manager Manny Acta. "We made some good plays and it was heads-up baseball out there. Good win for us in front of the fans."

The Red Sox threatened in the third when Marco Scutaro walked with one out and took second on a base hit by Jacoby Ellsbury. Carl Crawford then hit a bouncer to first and Matt LaPorta's throw toward second was off target, pulling Asdrubal Cabrera off the bag. However, he quickly tagged Ellsbury on a close play for a disputed second out and Dustin Pedroia flied harmlessly to center for the final out.

Cleveland also put two on with one out in the home third on singles by LaPorta and Everett, but Orlando Cabrera bounced into a force out and Asdrubal Cabrera fanned to end the inning.

The Indians got a leadoff double from Shelley Duncan in the seventh, but Austin Kearns fouled out on a bunt attempt and LaPorta grounded out to third before Travis Buck bounced to second.

Boston then left two stranded in the eighth. Scutaro singled with one out against Cleveland reliever Chad Durbin and Ellsbury walked. Rafael Perez came on for the Tribe and retired Crawford on a grounder to third, advancing both runners, then got Pedroia on a slow roller to the left side of the mound to keep it scoreless.

Game Notes

Cleveland finished a 4-2 homestand to start the season and will head to Seattle to open a three-game series on Friday night...Scutaro went 2-for-2 with a walk and had the lone multi-hit effort...Youkilis went 0-for-4 and was hitless in 10 at-bats during the series. He is batting just .105 for the season...Boston stranded seven runners and Cleveland left five aboard.