Red Sox Win Third Straight Game Vs. Indians To Take The Series

Well it is a bit early to start printing Red Sox 2012 World Series Champions merchandise but the last three days have been a positive development for a team that hasn't done anything right since last September.

Boston (15-19, 7-11 home) won its third straight game over Cleveland (18-16, 10-6 away), concluding the four-game series this afternoon with a 12-1 blowout on Mother's Day at Fenway Park.

A pair of unlikely stars along with a budding star propelled the Red Sox as Jarrod Saltalamacchia (5 RBIs, 3 hits, run), Daniel Nava (3 runs, 3 RBIs, 2 hits) and Will Middlebrooks (3 runs, 2 hits, 2 RBIs) helped beat up former Boston pitcher Justin Masterson (1-3). After he allowed six earned runs in six innings, another former Red Sox-Dan Wheeler-was also tagged for six earned runs (in only one inning).

Daniel Bard (3-4) picked up the win after six routine innings. He allowed one earned run on six hits with two strikeouts and four walks.

Boston made sure it would be a comfortable Sunday as they scored four runs in the first inning. They added one in the third and sixth before icing it with six in the seventh.

Fittingly, it was Middlebrooks (RBI single), Nava (RBI double) and Saltalamacchia (two-run single) that got it done in the first.

The Indians scored their only run in the third on a bases loaded walk by Asdrubal Cabrera. Michael Brantley (3 hits, 2 doubles) was the only Indians hitter to have a good game in this forgettable contest for the AL Central leaders.

Middlebrooks (4th of the season) hit a solo homer to left in the third and Salty had an RBI single in the sixth. David Ortiz (2 runs) started the hit parade in the seventh with an RBI single, Nava had a two-run double and Salty (5th of the season) crushed a three-run bomb to center.

In a weird twist, Boston doesn't get an off day (this is the middle of the 20 games in 20 days stretch) and Seattle (16-20) comes to Fenway for two games. The good news is that the Red Sox avoid Felix Hernandez but Mr. 18 off days himself-Josh Beckett-starts on Tuesday. Jon Lester (1-3) faces Jason Vargas (4-2) tomorrow night (7:10 p.m., NESN) and Beckett (2-4) opposes Blake Beavan (1-3) on Tuesday afternoon (4:05 p.m., NESN). The only explanation I have for the strange 4:05 start is that it's a getaway day with the Red Sox leaving after the game for an eight-game road trip.

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