Cleveland Guardians vs Boston Red Sox Box Score on Aug 20, 2018

Greg Allen hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning to help the Cleveland Indians post a 5-4 victory over the host Boston Red Sox on Monday night at Fenway Park.

Allen's blast was the big blow as the American League Central-leading Indians prevailed in the opener of a four-game set against the AL East-leading Red Sox. The victory was the 10th in the past 12 games for Cleveland.

Corey Kluber (16-6) became the third 16-game winner in the majors as he allowed three runs and nine hits over 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out six and walked one while winning his fourth straight decision.

Michael Brantley added a two-run blast, and Melky Cabrera hit a solo shot for the Indians. Right-hander Cody Allen worked the ninth for his 25th save in 28 opportunities.

Xander Bogaerts had three RBIs for Boston, which has dropped two straight games and three of its last five.

Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello (15-6) didn't allow a run in the first four innings before serving up homers in three straight frames. Porcello allowed five runs, six hits and one walk while striking out six.

Allen's decisive homer followed a sequence in which Porcello was hit in the stomach by a liner off the bat of Yan Gomes. Porcello scrambled to retrieve the ball and threw to second for a forceout and the second out of the inning.

Two pitches later, Allen hit a 1-0 changeup over the fence in right-center field for his second homer of the campaign.

The Red Sox threatened in each of the final two innings.

Steve Pearce hit a two-out double to right in the eighth inning before left-hander Brad Hand struck out Jackie Bradley Jr. to end the frame.

Mookie Betts delivered a leadoff double in the ninth against Cody Allen, and Andrew Benintendi followed by drawing a walk. Allen induced Mitch Moreland to hit into a fielder's choice and retired J.D. Martinez on an infield popup, but Bogaerts reached on an RBI infield single as Cleveland third baseman Jose Ramirez had no play.

Allen then won an eight-pitch battle with Ian Kinsler by getting the Red Sox second baseman on a routine fly to left to end it.

The Indians began their recovery from a three-run deficit when Cabrera led off the fifth inning by drilling a 0-1 fastball over the wall in right-center field.

One inning later, Francisco Lindor reached on an infield single, and Brantley followed by slugging a 1-0 changeup into the bullpen in right-center to knot the score at 3.

Boston jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning on three two-out hits against Kluber. Moreland singled to left, Martinez doubled to right and Bogaerts knocked them both in with a single to center.

The Red Sox again strung together three straight two-out hits in the second inning. Bradley doubled to center and moved to third on Betts' single to left before scoring on Benintendi's single to left.

--Field Level Media