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Indians welcome Red Sox to Progressive Field

May 23, 2011 - 2:41 PM (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians take aim at a fourth straight win this evening when they open a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Progressive Field.

Cleveland continued to be the league's biggest surprise over the weekend, as it took all three games of its interleague set with in-state rival Cincinnati to up their major league-best mark to 29-15. Thanks to a career day from Asdrubal Cabrera the Tribe completed the sweep on Sunday, as he had five hits, including two home runs and five runs batted in during Cleveland's 12-4 drubbing of the Reds at Progressive Field.

It was Cabrera's first multi-home run game and five-hit performance. He also matched a career high in RBI for the Indians, who have won six of their last eight games.

"Asdrubal Cabrera was a one-man show at the plate today," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "He had quality at-bats and he just took over. It was remarkable."

Michael Brantley had three hits and two RBI for Cleveland, which scored 12 runs on 13 hits. Carlos Carrasco (3-2) recorded the win, allowing four runs on six hits over six-plus innings.

The start is the club's best out of the gates since opening the 2001 season with a 29-14 mark. The Indians, who are now a season-high 14 games over .500, have owned at least a share of first place in the American League Central since April 7.

A big part of Cleveland's success this season has been its play at home where it is 18-4, matching the club's best start through 22 home games in the franchise's 111-year history (also in 2007, 1995).

Tonight, the Tribe turn to a hurler very familiar with Boston in righty Justin Masterson, who started his career with the Red Sox before being dealt to Cleveland as part of the Victor Martinez deal in 2009. The sinkerballer has seemed to have found his way this season, as he his 5-2 with a 2.53 ERA. However, he has lost his last two starts and suffered a hard-luck setback in his last trip to the hill on Wednesday in Chicago. Masterson gave up just a run and five hits in eight innings of that one, but was on the wrong end of the 1-0 loss.

"Both guys threw the ball extremely well tonight," Acta said. "You know, unfortunately for us their guys put a run across and we couldn't."

Masterson has beaten his former team both times he has faced them, allowing just a run in 14 innings of those outings.

Boston, meanwhile, enters this weekend on a high note after taking two of three from the Chicago Cubs over the weekend. In Sunday's rubber match, Tim Wakefield gave up just one run while Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run triple to help the Red Sox take a 5-1 win.

Wakefield (1-1), starting in place of an injured John Lackey, was charged with just four hits and the run over 6 2/3 innings with three strikeouts for the Red Sox, who have won eight of their last nine overall.

"On a personal side, every win is precious, but as long as the team wins," Wakefield said. "Even though I didn't get that [3-2 win on May 1] against Seattle, we came back and won the game, which is the most important thing."

Adrian Gonzalez went 4-for-4 with two runs scored while Jarrod Saltalamacchia added a solo home run in the win. Gonzalez was a sizzling 10-for-15 in the series and is hitting .431 with six homers and 19 RBI in his last 13 games.

He also has five home runs and 14 RBI in his last nine road contests.

Heading to the hill for the Red Sox tonight will be righty Clay Buchholz, who is 4-3 with a 3.42 ERA. Buchholz did not get a decision on Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers, despite tossing seven scoreless innings in his team's 1-0 win.

Buchholz has faced the Indians twice and is 0-1 with a 8.10 ERA.

Cleveland swept a three-game set from the Red Sox earlier in the year at Progressive Field.