Carlos Zambrano pitched seven strong innings to help the Miami Marlins open interleague play by beating the Cleveland Indians 3-2 Friday night.

Miami broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Hanley Ramirez. All three Marlins runs were scored by batters who had started rallies with walks.

Zambrano (2-2) gave up four hits and two runs as he continued a strong first season in Miami after 11 years with the Chicago Cubs. The right-hander has a 1.96 ERA in eight starts since being acquired in a January trade.

Heath Bell worked the ninth for his fourth save in eight chances.

Reliever Tony Sipp (0-2) took the loss as Cleveland had a four-game winning streak broken.

Marlins center fielder Emilio Bonifacio left with a strained left thumb in the fifth inning.

Indians starter Justin Masterson, aware that Bonifacio was 20 for 20 in steals this season, threw over to first base four times to keep the speedy runner close. On one of the pickoff attempts, Bonifacio appeared to jam his hand as he dove back to the base. He then was thrown out by catcher Carlos Santana.

Bryan Petersen opened the Miami eighth with a walk off Sipp and was bunted to second by Jose Reyes. Right-hander Joe Smith came on and got Omar Infante to hit a bouncer back to him. Smith whirled and threw to second, trying to get Petersen, but the ball hit the runner and rolled into right field for an error, putting Marlins on first and third.

Ramirez then flied out to center, scoring Petersen for the second time. Petersen also walked to open the third inning against Indians starter Justin Masterson, was singled to third by Reyes and scored when Infante’s ground ball forced out Reyes at second.

Cleveland took a 2-0 lead off Zambrano in the second.

Johnny Damon drew a two-out walk and scored all the way from first on Casey Kotchman’s double just inside the first-base line. After Jose Lopez walked, Shin-Soo Choo singled home Kotchman for a 2-0 lead.

The Marlins tied it at 2 in the sixth. Infante walked, was doubled to third by Greg Dobbs and scored on a sacrifice fly by Giancarlo Stanton.

Masterson gave up two runs and six hits over seven innings, bouncing back from a poor start Sunday in Boston when he gave up six runs over six innings of a 12-1 loss to the Red Sox.

Notes: Indians DH Travis Hafner went 0 for 4. He had been replaced Thursday after getting hit in the right hand with a pitch. … Indians 3B Jack Hannahan missed his fifth straight game with a sore back. … Former Indians star OF Joe Carter and Hall of Fame RHP Phil Niekro, who pitched two seasons in Cleveland late in his career, greeted fans as part of the team’s ambassador program. Niekro threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The first 15,000 fans received a Carter bobblehead souvenir. … Santana went 3 for 4 throwing out potential base stealers and is 8 of 25 overall. … Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen watched the Cubs-White Sox game on TV in the afternoon. Paul Konerko, whom Guillen managed for eight seasons, was hit in the helmet by Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija. “I texted him right away,” Guillen said. “He texted me 10 minutes later and said he was fine.” … Guillen’s sister, Darlenys, is married to Indians pitching coach Scott Radinsky. … Miami is 7-3 against the Indians in interleague play since beating Cleveland in a seven-game World Series in 1997.
 

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 18, 2012

CLEVELAND — Carlos Zambrano pitched seven strong innings to help the Miami Marlins open interleague play by beating the Cleveland Indians 3-2 Friday night.

Miami broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Hanley Ramirez. All three Marlins runs were scored by batters who had started rallies with walks.

Zambrano (2-2) gave up four hits and two runs as he continued a strong first season in Miami after 11 years with the Chicago Cubs. The right-hander has a 1.96 ERA in eight starts since being acquired in a January trade.

Heath Bell worked the ninth for his fourth save in eight chances.

Reliever Tony Sipp (0-2) took the loss as Cleveland had a four-game winning streak broken.

Marlins center fielder Emilio Bonifacio left with a strained left thumb in the fifth inning.

Indians starter Justin Masterson, aware that Bonifacio was 20 for 20 in steals this season, threw over to first base four times to keep the speedy runner close. On one of the pickoff attempts, Bonifacio appeared to jam his hand as he dove back to the base. He then was thrown out by catcher Carlos Santana.

Bryan Petersen opened the Miami eighth with a walk off Sipp and was bunted to second by Jose Reyes. Right-hander Joe Smith came on and got Omar Infante to hit a bouncer back to him. Smith whirled and threw to second, trying to get Petersen, but the ball hit the runner and rolled into right field for an error, putting Marlins on first and third.

Ramirez then flied out to center, scoring Petersen for the second time. Petersen also walked to open the third inning against Indians starter Justin Masterson, was singled to third by Reyes and scored when Infante’s ground ball forced out Reyes at second.

Cleveland took a 2-0 lead off Zambrano in the second.

Johnny Damon drew a two-out walk and scored all the way from first on Casey Kotchman’s double just inside the first-base line. After Jose Lopez walked, Shin-Soo Choo singled home Kotchman for a 2-0 lead.

The Marlins tied it at 2 in the sixth. Infante walked, was doubled to third by Greg Dobbs and scored on a sacrifice fly by Giancarlo Stanton.

Masterson gave up two runs and six hits over seven innings, bouncing back from a poor start Sunday in Boston when he gave up six runs over six innings of a 12-1 loss to the Red Sox.

Notes

Indians DH Travis Hafner went 0 for 4. He had been replaced Thursday after getting hit in the right hand with a pitch. … Indians 3B Jack Hannahan missed his fifth straight game with a sore back. … Former Indians star OF Joe Carter and Hall of Fame RHP Phil Niekro, who pitched two seasons in Cleveland late in his career, greeted fans as part of the team’s ambassador program. Niekro threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The first 15,000 fans received a Carter bobblehead souvenir. … Santana went 3 for 4 throwing out potential base stealers and is 8 of 25 overall. … Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen watched the Cubs-White Sox game on TV in the afternoon. Paul Konerko, whom Guillen managed for eight seasons, was hit in the helmet by Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija. “I texted him right away,” Guillen said. “He texted me 10 minutes later and said he was fine.” … Guillen’s sister, Darlenys, is married to Indians pitching coach Scott Radinsky. … Miami is 7-3 against the Indians in interleague play since beating Cleveland in a seven-game World Series in 1997.

CLEVELAND — Carlos Santana didn’t mind the postgame pounding he took from his teammates Thursday. In fact, he enjoyed it.

Santana was greeted by his enthusiastic teammates after the Cleveland Indians beat the Seattle Mariners 6-5 on his RBI single with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning.

“I didn’t care if I got hurt or not,” he said. “They were hitting me everywhere, but I feel great. I’m so happy.”

Santana’s clutch hit capped a two-run 11th. He was mobbed by his teammates in a celebration that spilled onto the outfield grass after Cleveland won its fourth straight.

The comeback was the Indians’ second of the day. The Mariners led 4-0, but Cleveland scored a run in the seventh and Jose Lopez hit a three-run homer against Steve Delabar that tied it in the eighth. Although Seattle scored a run against Joe Smith (4-1) in the top of the 11th, the Indians still felt confident.

“Everyone in the dugout said, ‘Let’s get two, we can do it,’” Indians manager Manny Acta said.

Michael Saunders’ run-scoring double in the top of the 11th gave Seattle a 5-4 lead, but closer Brandon League (0-3) extended his startling lack of success against the Indians. League has blown seven saves in nine chances in his career against Cleveland, including two this season.

“You don’t get to closers very often,” Acta said. “The guys were pretty confident since we had done it before against him and we could do it again.”

League, who is 2-5 and has allowed 17 earned runs in 16 2/3 innings lifetime against Cleveland, took the blame for the loss.

“My control was just absolutely unacceptable today,” he said after walking three and allowing two hits while retiring only one batter. “I was issuing free passes, and when I did get the ball over the plate, it was right down the middle.”

Lopez drew a leadoff walk and went to second on a wild pitch. After Shin-Soo Choo struck out, Jason Kipnis walked. Asdrubal Cabrera’s single to right tied it.

Aaron Cunnigham, batting for Travis Hafner, walked to load the bases. Santana lined a 3-2 pitch to center for the winning hit.

Hafner was hit on the side of the right hand by a pitch from Charlie Furbush in the ninth. He walked slowly to first, but remained in the game after talking with Acta and a team trainer. Hafner went to the on-deck circle in the 11th, but knew he wouldn’t be able to hit because he couldn’t grip the bat.

“It got swollen up,” he said. “I iced it up. I think there’s definitely a chance I can play (today). I saw the doctor and everything checked out good.”

Hafner, who said he didn’t have X-rays, has been hit by a pitch 80 times in his career, a team record.

The Mariners, who have lost four consecutive games, are 1-6 on their 10-game road trip and are 1-12 away from home since April 28.

The Mariners wasted a strong outing by right-hander Hector Noesi, who allowed one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Delabar came on to start the eighth with Seattle leading 4-1. He walked Santana leading off, but retired the next two hitters. Casey Kotchman’s double to right moved Santana to third. Lopez then hit a 2-0 pitch off the railing above the 19-foot wall in left field to tie it at 4. The big moment almost was spoiled when he forgot to touch first as he rounded the bases.

“I was watching the ball,” Lopez said. “I knew I missed it so I ran back right away and touched it.”

Lopez, who played for the Mariners from 2004-10, started at third base in place of the injured Jack Hannahan. He committed a fielding error that led to an unearned run in the fifth and grounded out weakly to the mound with the bases loaded to end the fourth.

The Indians’ first run came on Cabrera’s seventh-inning single.

Ryan broke an 0-for-17 slump with an RBI single in the sixth, and drew walks in the third and fifth when the Mariners scored their first two runs. His two hits increased his average from .137 to .153.

Seattle has been outscored 40-19 on the road trip.

Zach McAllister, starting again in place of the injured Josh Tomlin, allowed four runs in 5 2-3 innings.

McAllister was called up from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday when Tomlin went on the disabled list with a sore right wrist. McAllister got the loss that night in Boston, allowing four runs in seven innings.

Tomlin, who hasn’t pitched since May 7, will undergo a second MRI on the wrist today.

Hannahan missed his fourth consecutive game with lower back soreness. The Indians said an MRI revealed mild back inflammation and Hannahan is day to day.

Indians left fielder Johnny Damon singled in the fourth and moved into a tie with Tony Perez for 55th place on the all-time career hits list with 2,732.

Ackley extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a first-inning single.

Seattle Mariners closer Brandon League has been a very reliable reliever throughout his nine-year career.

When he faces the Cleveland Indians, however, things typically do not end on a positive note.

League allowed the game-tying single to Asdrubal Cabrera and the winning hit to Carlos Santana in the 11th inning on Thursday, allowing the Indians to rally for a 6-5 victory over the Mariners.

Seattle had taken a one-run lead in the top of the 11th on Michael Saunders’ RBI double, but League (0-3) squandered it by walking three batters, throwing a wild pitch and allowing two hits in just one-third of an inning.

“We gave them that game,” Mariners manager Eric Wedge fumed. “Walks killed us early and walks killed us late. I liked the way we battled back after they tied the score the first time, but then we blew it again.”

It marked League’s third blown save _ and third walk-off loss _ at Progressive Field in the last two seasons. In his career against Cleveland, the right-hander is 2-5 with a 9.18 ERA and seven blown saves in nine chances.

“The guys were pretty confident since we had done it before against him,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “Everyone in the dugout said, `Let’s get two, we can do it.’ “

“I’m not sure what happened, but Brandon didn’t look like himself the whole inning,” Wedge said.

Cabrera’s one-out single scored Jose Lopez, while Santana’s liner up the middle came two batters later and brought Jason Kipnis home from third base.

“My control was just absolutely unacceptable today,” said League, who has converted 45 of 53 total save opportunities since the start of 2011. “I was issuing free passes, and when I did get the ball over the plate, it was right down the middle.”

Seattle is 1-6 on its current 10-game, 10-day road trip and has played a major-league high 25 away games. The Mariners travel to Colorado for a three-game set beginning Friday.

Joe Smith (4-1), the seventh Cleveland pitcher of the day, earned the victory despite allowing Saunders’ go-ahead shot off the wall in left-center that scored Dustin Ackley. The right-hander went one inning and was the lone Indians reliever to give up a run in 5 1-3 combined innings.

Seattle’s bullpen, meanwhile, was torched for five runs, five hits and five walks to waste a fine performance by starter Hector Noesi. The 25-year-old righty went 6 1-3 innings, allowing one run on five hits while walking three and striking out five.

Noesi exited the game with a 4-0 lead and one out in the seventh, but was powerless to stop the Mariners from losing their fourth straight game and falling to 1-12 in their last 13 road contests.

“Noesi was fantastic today,” Wedge said. “I was really pleased with the way he pitched, and I think he’s gaining a whole lot of confidence each time out.”

The Indians cut their deficit to 4-1 in the seventh when Cabrera singled off Seattle reliever Lucas Luetge with two outs, plating Casey Kotchman, who had singled off Noesi.

Former Mariners third baseman Lopez then tied the score in the eighth with a three-run homer off Steve Delabar. The 348-foot shot, which barely cleared the left-field wall, was Lopez’s second of the season and came with two outs.

“The ball got up and he put some wood on it,” said Delabar, who walked Santana to open the inning and gave up a double to Kotchman. “You never want to put anybody on for free, but that’s what I did to start things for them.”

Seattle had taken a 2-0 lead with single runs in the third and fifth, both without the benefit of a hit.

Saunders’ RBI groundout scored Brendan Ryan in the third, while John Jaso came around on a passed ball committed by Santana in the fifth.

Ryan, who entered the contest hitting .137 and in a 5-for-56 slump, went 2-for-3 with two walks. Justin Smoak also had two hits for the Mariners, whose 16-24 record is the second worst in the American League.

Seattle went 2-for-18 with runners in scoring position, making it 8-for-96 in its last 13 road games.

“It gets old being a young team having growing pains,” Ryan said. “At some point, we have to figure out how to close out games. Good teams step on your throat when they get ahead. We need to learn how to do that.”

Seattle extended its advantage to 4-0 with two runs in the sixth, knocking Indians starter Zach McAllister out of the game after 5 2-3 innings. Jaso doubled home Kyle Seager, then scored on Ryan’s RBI single off reliever Jairo Asencio.

McAllister, a right-hander, gave up four runs (three earned) and five walks while striking out six.

NOTES: OF Mike Carp, who was a late scratch Wednesday with a stiff right shoulder, started at DH and was hitless in two at-bats. He sprained the shoulder in the season opener in Japan and spent four weeks on the DL. … C Jesus Montero, who committed a costly throwing error Wednesday, didn’t start, but pinch-hit for Carp in the eighth. … The Mariners complete their road trip with three games in Colorado. RHP Kevin Millwood faces RHP Alex White on Friday. … Alex Liddi made his first major league start in left field. Normally a third baseman, he made his initial big league appearance in the outfield Wednesday in the ninth inning. … Indians OF Johnny Damon singled in the fourth for his 2,732nd career hit, tying him with Tony Perez for 55th place on the all-time list.

Chillicothe’s Zach McAllister, making his third start of the season for the Cleveland Indians, had a no decision in a 6-5, extra-innings victory on Thursday.

Carlos Santana hit a game-ending single with one out and the bases loaded in the 11th inning, capping a two-run rally and lifting the Indians to a victory over the Seattle Mariners.

McAllister, who started again in place of the injured Josh Tomlin, allowed four runs in 5 2-3 innings. The right-hander gave up three hits and four runs (three earned). He walked five and struck out six.

McAllister was called up from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday when Tomlin went on the disabled list with a sore right wrist. McAllister got the loss that night in Boston, allowing four runs in seven innings.

Tomlin, who hasn’t pitched since May 7, will undergo a second MRI on the wrist Friday.

Michael Saunders’ run-scoring double in the top of the inning gave Seattle a 5-4 lead, but closer Brandon League (0-3) couldn’t hold the lead.

Jose Lopez, who tied the game in the eighth with a three-run homer, drew a leadoff walk and went to second on a wild pitch. After Shin-Soo Choo struck out, Jason Kipnis walked. Asdrubal Cabrera’s single to right tied it.

Santana lined a 3-2 pitch to center for the winning hit. He was mobbed by his teammates in a celebration that spilled onto the outfield grass after Cleveland won its fourth straight.

Hafner was hit on the right hand by a pitch from Charlie Furbush in the ninth inning. He walked slowly to first, but remained in the game after talking with manager Manny Acta and a team trainer. Hafner has been hit by a pitch 80 times in his career, a club record.

League has blown four saves against Cleveland in the last two seasons. The Mariners, who have lost four straight, are 1-6 on their 10-game road trip and are 1-12 away from home since April 28.

Joe Smith (4-1) got the win despite allowing the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th. Brendan Ryan started the inning with a single. After Dustin Ackley hit into a fielder’s choice, Saunders doubled to the gap in left-center to score Ackley.

The Mariners led 4-0, but the Indians scored a run in the seventh and Lopez’s three-run homer off Steve Delabar tied it in the eighth.

The Mariners wasted a strong outing by right-hander Hector Noesi, who allowed one run and five hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Delabar came on to start the eighth with Seattle holding a 4-1 lead. He walked Santana leading off, but retired the next two hitters. Casey Kotchman’s double to right moved Santana to third. Lopez then hit a 2-0 pitch off the railing above the 19-foot wall in left field to tie it at 4.

Lopez, who played for the Mariners from 2004-10, started at third base in place of the injured Jack Hannahan. He committed a fielding error that led to an unearned run in the fifth and grounded out weakly to the mound with the bases loaded to end the fourth.

Ryan broke an 0-for-17 slump with an RBI single in the sixth and drew walks in the third and fifth when the Mariners scored their first two runs.

Seattle, which had been outscored 34-14 in the first six games of the road trip, got a run in the third on Saunders’ groundout. Santana’s passed ball scored another run in the fifth. John Jaso’s run-scoring double and Ryan’s single pushed the lead to 4-0.

Indians left fielder Johnny Damon singled in the fourth and moved into a tie with Tony Perez for 55th place on the all-time career hits list with 2,732.

Ackley extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a first-inning single.

Hannahan missed his fourth straight game with lower back soreness. The Indians said an MRI revealed mild back inflammation and Hannahan is day to day.

NOTES: Seattle LF Mike Carp, who was a late scratch Wednesday with a stiff right shoulder, started at DH. He sprained the shoulder in the season opener in Japan and spent four weeks on the DL. … Montero, who committed a costly throwing error Wednesday, didn’t start, but pinch-hit for Carp in the eighth. … The Mariners complete their road trip with three games in Colorado. RHP Kevin Millwood faces RHP Alex White on Friday. … The Indians open a three-game home series against Miami on Friday. RHP Justin Masterson meets RHP Carlos Zambrano.
 

CLEVELAND (AP) — Carlos Santana hit a game-ending single with one out and the bases loaded in the 11th inning, capping a two-run rally and lifting the Cleveland Indians to a 6-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.

Michael Saunders’ run-scoring double in the top of the inning gave Seattle a 5-4 lead, but closer Brandon League (0-3) couldn’t hold the lead.

Jose Lopez, who tied the game in the eighth with a three-run homer, drew a leadoff walk and went to second on a wild pitch. After Shin-Soo Choo struck out, Jason Kipnis walked. Asdrubal Cabrera’s single to right tied it.

Santana lined a 3-2 pitch to center for the winning hit. He was mobbed by his teammates in a celebration that spilled onto the outfield grass after Cleveland won its fourth straight.

Hafner was hit on the right hand by a pitch from Charlie Furbush in the ninth inning. He walked slowly to first, but remained in the game after talking with manager Manny Acta and a team trainer. Hafner has been hit by a pitch 80 times in his career, a club record.

League has blown four saves against Cleveland in the last two seasons. The Mariners, who have lost four straight, are 1-6 on their 10-game road trip and are 1-12 away from home since April 28.

Joe Smith (4-1) got the win despite allowing the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th. Brendan Ryan started the inning with a single. After Dustin Ackley hit into a fielder’s choice, Saunders doubled to the gap in left-center to score Ackley.

The Mariners led 4-0, but the Indians scored a run in the seventh and Lopez’s three-run homer off Steve Delabar tied it in the eighth.

The Mariners wasted a strong outing by right-hander Hector Noesi, who allowed one run and five hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Delabar came on to start the eighth with Seattle holding a 4-1 lead. He walked Santana leading off, but retired the next two hitters. Casey Kotchman’s double to right moved Santana to third. Lopez then hit a 2-0 pitch off the railing above the 19-foot wall in left field to tie it at 4.

Lopez, who played for the Mariners from 2004-10, started at third base in place of the injured Jack Hannahan. He committed a fielding error that led to an unearned run in the fifth and grounded out weakly to the mound with the bases loaded to end the fourth.

Ryan broke an 0-for-17 slump with an RBI single in the sixth and drew walks in the third and fifth when the Mariners scored their first two runs.

Seattle, which had been outscored 34-14 in the first six games of the road trip, got a run in the third on Saunders’ groundout. Santana’s passed ball scored another run in the fifth. John Jaso’s run-scoring double and Ryan’s single pushed the lead to 4-0.

Zach McAllister starting again in place of the injured Josh Tomlin, allowed four runs in 5 2-3 innings. The Indians’ first run came on Cabrera’s seventh-inning single.

Indians left fielder Johnny Damon singled in the fourth and moved into a tie with Tony Perez for 55th place on the all-time career hits list with 2,732.

McAllister was called up from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday when Tomlin went on the disabled list with a sore right wrist. McAllister got the loss that night in Boston, allowing four runs in seven innings.

Tomlin, who hasn’t pitched since May 7, will undergo a second MRI on the wrist Friday.

Ackley extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a first-inning single.

Hannahan missed his fourth straight game with lower back soreness. The Indians said an MRI revealed mild back inflammation and Hannahan is day to day.

NOTES: Seattle LF Mike Carp, who was a late scratch Wednesday with a stiff right shoulder, started at DH. He sprained the shoulder in the season opener in Japan and spent four weeks on the DL. … Montero, who committed a costly throwing error Wednesday, didn’t start, but pinch-hit for Carp in the eighth. … The Mariners complete their road trip with three games in Colorado. RHP Kevin Millwood faces RHP Alex White on Friday. … The Indians open a three-game home series against Miami on Friday. RHP Justin Masterson meets RHP Carlos Zambrano.

BOSTON — Go ahead and say it. You know you can’t help yourself.

All together now: Josh Beckett must have had an early tee time today. Why else would he have left the mound at Fenway Park so early?

Then again, it may have had something to do with the Indians, who hit Beckett early and often Thursday night on the way to an 8-3 victory against the staggering Red Sox. The Indians have won seven of their past 11 games, while the Red Sox have lost nine of their past 11.

It was Beckett’s first start since April 29. He missed his last scheduled start because of a strained left latissimus muscle, but he reportedly was seen playing golf on an off day — the day after it was announced he had been scratched.

In Boston, when it comes to the Red Sox, there are no small stories. If Beckett was healthy enough to swing a golf club, Red Sox Nation wants to know how hurt he really was. Beckett wasn’t around to answer questions Wednesday because he flew from Kansas City to Boston ahead of the team to get ready to face the Indians.

After the game, Beckett told reporters he had no regrets about playing golf on his off day.

“My off day is my off day,” he said.

The Indians used seven hits, including homers by Jack Hannahan and Jason Kipnis, to drive Beckett from the mound with one out in the third inning. When Andrew Miller replaced Beckett, the Indians led, 7-1.

“It was very important to get him early,” said Indians manager Manny Acta. “He’s one of the best guys in the league. We’ve seen some games where we’ve been dominated by him.”

Casey Kotchman, after a walk by Shin-Soo Choo and a double by Michael Brantley, started the scoring in the second with a sacrifice fly. Hannahan, who missed Wednesday’s start against Chicago because of a sore left groin, hit a 2-2 pitch into the seats down the right-field line for a 3-0 lead.

Kipnis started a four-run third with a leadoff homer to right. It was his fourth homer at Fenway Park, even though he has played only 67 big-league games. Last year, Kipnis hit three homers in three straight games at Fenway.

Asked if Kipnis had a swing built for Fenway, Acta said, “I think Kipnis’ swing fits every ballpark in America.”

Asdrubal Cabrera followed Kipnis with a single, and Travis Hafner walked. Beckett retired Carlos Santana on a fly ball to center, but Choo and Brantley sent him to the showers with consecutive doubles. Choo scored Cabrera, and Brantley’s double scored Hafner and Choo.

“I really enjoyed watching our offense tonight,” said Derek Lowe, who went six innings for the win. “Anytime they give you a 7-1 lead after three innings, you can’t ask for anything more.”

Beckett (2-4, 5.97) was booed as he left the mound. He allowed seven runs on seven hits in 21/3 innings.

Lowe, who pitched for the Red Sox from 1997 through 2004, said he has seen the Fenway faithful much worse.

“In 2003, when I was closing here, I blew a three-run lead in literally 30 seconds,” Lowe said. “It happened to be the night they were giving out my posters. The posters turned into airplanes really fast.

“It was a 10-minute delay. Stop the game. I sat in the clubhouse until 2 a.m. I’d stick my head out to see if it was safe to come out, and they’d say, ‘I see you in there.’ ”

Lowe (5-1, 2.47) allowed two runs on nine hits and threw 107 pitches. It was just the second time the 38-year-old right-hander has faced Boston.

As usual, he kept the ball on the ground, recording 13 ground-ball outs. Hannahan, in particular, got a workout at third.

“Every time I looked over [at third], he was on his rump,” Lowe said of Hannahan.

“I told him I was going to try and get him some balls hit right at him.”

The Indians, who own the best road record in the American League at 10-3, dropped the Red Sox to 4-11 at home. Boston is in last place in the AL East.

Brantley led the Indians’ offense with the fourth four-hit game of his career. Cabrera, Hannahan and Kipnis added two hits each.

“Tonight, the offense was very good,” Acta said. “Michael Brantley had a very good game.

“It’s nice when you’re getting that from the bottom of your lineup.”

Brantley, Kotchman and Hannahan were a combined 6-for-11, with two doubles, one homer, five RBI and two runs.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

On Twitter: @hoynsie

CLEVELAND – Johnny Damon was signed to give the Cleveland Indians a bit of a jolt.
 
Turns out, the Indians’ young players have provided the 38-year-old outfielder with a lift, too.
 
Damon hit a two-run triple in his first home game for Cleveland and Jeanmar Gomez pitched seven strong innings to lead the Indians over the Texas Rangers 6-3 on Friday night.
 
“I love my role, which is to still contribute and play, but help my team develop, too,” Damon said. “It’s great to be with a team that’s hungry to win, hungry to get to a World Series, ready to go all-out every game. In just a couple days, these young guys have helped give me new life, too.”
 
Gomez (2-1), one of those youngsters at 24 years old, gave up seven hits and three runs as Cleveland won for the fourth time in five games. Texas has lost five of seven, but the two-time AL champions still lead the West Division.
 
“Gomez was terrific against such a great lineup,” Indians manager Manny Acta said.
 
Shin-Soo Choo and Jack Hannahan homered off Colby Lewis (3-1) to help Cleveland take an early lead.
 
Damon’s drive in the seventh off the wall in center was nearly caught by Josh Hamilton, who returned to the Rangers’ lineup after missing three games with a sore back.
 
Chris Perez pitched the ninth for his 10th consecutive save. He is perfect since blowing the save in the season opener April 5.
 
“Right now, he’s in a zone,” Acta said. “He’s going right after guys.”
 
The game ended with Choo making a leaping catch at the right-field wall to snare a drive off the bat of pinch-hitter Adrian Beltre with a runner on first.
 
Damon went 1 for 4, though Hamilton nearly made a sensational catch of his drive just as he crashed into the wall. Casey Kotchman and Hannahan scored as Damon got to third base and clapped his hands after putting Cleveland ahead 6-3.
 
“I was good to give us some insurance,” Damon said. “No lead is too big for that team. Fortunately, (Hamilton) didn’t make that play. I’ve seen him make that catch.”
 
Acta was impressed with Damon’s hustle around the bases for the standup triple.
 
“I think this guy was doing that before most of our guys signed a professional contract,” Acta said of Damon, who was a rookie in 1995. “He’s in tremendous shape.”
 
Texas manager Ron Washington second-guessed himself for letting Lewis face Damon with left-hander Robbie Ross warming up in the bullpen.
 
“Colby had gotten him out all day,” Washington said. “I was one batter late. I’ll take the blame for that.”
 
Damon admitted he wasn’t comfortable early against the right-hander.
 
“The first three times up, I had lazy swings,” Damon said after driving on 0-1 curveball 400 feet to center.
 
“I don’t think I had thrown one (curve) to him all day,” Lewis said. “I had made him swing at a lot of bad pitches, good pitches for me in the first three at-bats. He made it happen when he needed to make it happen.”
 
Choo’s two-run homer made it 2-0 in the second. The 414-foot drive to center snapped an 0-for-14 slump and was his first homer since Aug. 23.
 
Texas, which had won 11 of its previous 12 games at Progressive Field, scored in the third on a sacrifice fly by Ian Kinsler.
 
Hannahan made it 3-1 in the bottom half with his second homer, which originally appeared to be a standup triple. His drive down the right-field line caromed off the wall and by the time right fielder Nelson Cruz tracked it down, Hannahan was standing on third.
 
Acta argued and plate umpire Dale Scott and his crew went to look at TV replays, which showed the ball hit above the yellow line atop the wall. Scott signaled homer, the crowd roared, and Hannahan trotted home.
 
David Murphy’s RBI double in the fourth got Texas within 3-2.
 
The Rangers tied it in the sixth. Michael Young blooped a double to right, moved up on Murphy’s long fly ball to center and scored on Cruz’s single to left, which broke his 0-for-14 slide.
 
Lewis allowed six runs and 10 hits over 6 2-3 innings, snapping his personal six-game winning streak since Sept. 9. That was the longest active streak in the AL.
 
Notes: Texas has lost three straight for the first time since Aug. 23-25. … Rangers SS Elvis Andrus went 1 for 4. He has hit safely in all 24 of his career games against Cleveland. … Washington pushed RHP Neftali Perez’s next start to Tuesday at Baltimore, saying he wants to keep the other starters, Lewis, Derek Holland, Yu Darvish and Matt Harrison on their regular turn. … Perez said a season-ending knee injury to Yankees closer Mariano Rivera won’t keep him from shagging fly balls during batting practice. “It’s a shame that’s how he got hurt, but it won’t stop me,” Perez said. “I love it. It makes me feel like a (regular) player.” … Cleveland traded OF Ryan Spilborghs to the Rangers, who assigned him to Triple-A Round Rock.

CLEVELAND — Johnny Damon was signed to give the Cleveland Indians a bit of a jolt.

Turns out, the Indians’ young players have provided the 38-year-old outfielder with a lift, too.

Damon hit a two-run triple in his first home game for Cleveland and Jeanmar Gomez pitched seven strong innings Friday to lead the Indians past the Texas Rangers 6-3.

“I love my role, which is to still contribute and play, but help my team develop, too,” Damon said. “It’s great to be with a team that’s hungry to win, hungry to get to a World Series, ready to go all-out every game. In just a couple days, these young guys have helped give me new life, too.”

Gomez (2-1), one of those youngsters at 24 years old, allowed seven hits and three runs as Cleveland won for the fourth time in five games. Texas has lost five of seven, but the two-time AL champions still lead the West Division.

“Gomez was terrific against such a great lineup,” Indians manager Manny Acta said.

Shin-Soo Choo and Jack Hannahan homered against Colby Lewis (3-1) to help Cleveland take an early lead.

Damon’s drive in the seventh off the wall in center almost was caught by Josh Hamilton, who returned to the Rangers’ lineup after missing three games with a sore back.

Chris Perez pitched the ninth for his 10th consecutive save. He is perfect since blowing the save in the season opener April 5.

“Right now, he’s in a zone,” Acta said. “He’s going right after guys.”

The game ended with Choo making a leaping catch at the right-field wall to grab a drive off the bat of pinch-hitter Adrian Beltre with a runner on first.

Damon went 1-for-4, but Hamilton almost made a sensational catch of his drive just as he crashed into the wall. Casey Kotchman and Hannahan scored as Damon got to third base to put Cleveland ahead 6-3.

“I was good to give us some insurance,” Damon said. “No lead is too big for that team. Fortunately, (Hamilton) didn’t make that play. I’ve seen him make that catch.”

Acta was impressed with Damon’s hustle around the bases for the standup triple.

“I think this guy was doing that before most of our guys signed a professional contract,” Acta said of Damon, who was a rookie in 1995. “He’s in tremendous shape.”

Texas manager Ron Washington second-guessed himself for letting Lewis face Damon with left-hander Robbie Ross warming up in the bullpen.

“Colby had gotten him out all day,” Washington said. “I was one batter late. I’ll take the blame for that.”

Damon said he wasn’t comfortable early against the right-hander.

“The first three times up, I had lazy swings,” Damon said after driving on 0-1 curveball 400 feet to center.

“I don’t think I had thrown one (curve) to him all day,” Lewis said. “I had made him swing at a lot of bad pitches, good pitches for me in the first three at-bats. He made it happen when he needed to make it happen.”

Choo’s two-run homer made it 2-0 in the second. The 414-foot drive to center snapped an 0-for-14 slump and was his first homer since Aug. 23.

Texas, which had won 11 of its previous 12 games at Progressive Field, scored in the third on a sacrifice fly by Ian Kinsler.

Hannahan made it 3-1 in the bottom half with his second homer, which originally appeared to be a triple. His drive down the right-field line caromed off the wall and by the time right fielder Nelson Cruz tracked it down, Hannahan was standing on third.

Acta argued and plate umpire Dale Scott and his crew went to look at TV replays, which showed the ball hit above the yellow line atop the wall. Scott signaled homer, the crowd roared, and Hannahan trotted home.

David Murphy’s RBI double in the fourth got Texas within 3-2.

The Rangers tied it in the sixth. Michael Young blooped a double to right, moved up on Murphy’s long fly ball to center and scored on Cruz’s single to left, which broke his 0-for-14 slide.

Lewis allowed six runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings, snapping his personal six-game winning streak since Sept. 9. That was the longest active streak in the AL.

Notes: Texas has lost three straight for the first time since Aug. 23-25. … Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus went 1-for-4. He has hit safely in all 24 of his career games against Cleveland. … Washington pushed right-hander Neftali Perez’s next start to Tuesday at Baltimore, saying he wants to keep the other starters, Lewis, Derek Holland, Yu Darvish and Matt Harrison on their regular turn. … Perez said a season-ending knee injury to Yankees closer Mariano Rivera won’t keep him from shagging fly balls during batting practice. “It’s a shame that’s how he got hurt, but it won’t stop me,” Perez said. “I love it. It makes me feel like a (regular) player.” … Cleveland traded outfielder Ryan Spilborghs to the Rangers, who assigned him to Triple-A Round Rock.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Johnny Damon was in the midst of a forgettable home debut with the Indians Friday night when he came to the plate with two on and two outs in the seventh inning. His first three at-bats were popped to left, and he had misplayed a ball in left field that led to a run.

But Damon did not have 2,724 career hits by conceding that any game was a lost cause. He knew one swing can salvage everything.

Damon hit a two-run triple in the seventh inning to account for the final margin as the Indians defeated the Rangers, 6-3, at Progressive Field. Right-hander Jeanmar Gomez allowed three runs in seven innings in front of a paid attendance of 16,147.

The Tribe (14-10), first in the AL Central, has won three in a row. Texas (17-9), first in the AL West, has lost three straight. In their first game against the Rangers this season, the Indians matched their victory total from last year’s series (1-9).

“It’s always good when you can beat a club like that, especially in the first game of a series,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “We played very fundamentally sound, and Gomez was terrific against such a great lineup that the Rangers put out there.”

Gomez (2-1, 2.82 ERA) did not have his plus-slider, but he used his fastball and change effectively and made quality pitches when necessary. It was his first career appearance against Texas.

“They have a lot of good hitters,” Gomez said. “I watched an hour of tape. I felt good out there.”

A one-run lead against the Rangers is virtually nothing, so the Indians figured they needed to squeeze something out of their seventh inning. With two outs, Casey Kotchman walked against right-hander Colby Lewis and advanced to second on Jack Hannahan’s single.

Damon took a called strike, then smoked a Lewis curve deep to center. The smooth Josh Hamilton narrowly missed running it down at the wall.

“In my first three at-bats, I competed, but they were lazy swings at pitches off the plate,” Damon said. “In the last at-bat, the pitch might have been a tad off the plate, too, but I happened to get the good part of the bat on it. Fortunately, Josh didn’t make that play; he makes it quite a bit during the course of a season.”

Damon is 2-for-12 in three games with the Indians since being signed as a free agent.

“It’s good that Johnny can join the Tribe and start doing that stuff,” Acta said of the triple. “He’s been in so many big situations, nothing’s going to faze him in this game.”

The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the second. With one out, Carlos Santana singled. Santana barely had time to get his lead when Shin-Soo Choo dropped the barrel on a two-seamer and hammered it into the Indians bullpen in center.

Choo’s first homer of the season snapped an 0-for-14 and gave him his first RBIs at home, where he had been 3-for-21. Choo had gone 17 games and 67 at-bats without a homer, easily the longest season-opening dry spell of his career.

Texas pulled within 2-1 in the third. Mitch Moreland led off with a fly to deep left field, where Damon got turned around and had the ball glance off his glove. Moreland, who was credited with a double, moved to third on a grounder and scored on Ian Kinsler’s sacrifice fly to right.

Hannahan made it 3-1 with a homer in the Tribe half of the third. Hannahan’s lead-off shot down the right-field line initially was a triple after the ball caromed back in play. Acta asked for a review, and the umpire crew saw that the ball hit the glass above the wall.

The Rangers scored in the fourth when Michael Young and David Murphy hit back-to-back doubles. They tied it in the sixth when Nelson Cruz lined a two-out single to left to drive in Young.

The Indians regained the advantage in the bottom of the sixth. Sizzling Jason Kipnis opened with a single, extending his hitting streak to eight games. Kipnis stole second and moved to third on Asdrubal Cabrera’s infield single up the middle. Travis Hafner hit a sacrifice fly to center.

Kipnis finished 2-for-4. He was coming off a series in Chicago in which he went 6-for-11 with two walks.

Lewis gave up the six runs on 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings. In his previous five starts to begin the season, he did not give up more than two runs.

“We had a pretty good approach against him,” Acta said. “We laid off some tough pitches, and guys didn’t try to do too much.”

Gomez was relieved by Vinnie Pestano to begin the eighth. Gomez allowed the three runs on eight hits, walked one and struck out two.

Pestano pitched the eighth. Chris Perez worked the ninth to earn his 10th consecutive save.

In the top of the first, Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus reached on an infield single to shortstop, giving him at least one hit in 24 career games against Cleveland. The career-opening streak is the longest against the Tribe since at least 1918.

Even though the wind was blowing in, the ball carried to most parts of the ballpark. First-pitch temperature of 66 degrees qualified as balmy when stacked against most of the other Tribe home games this year.

On Twitter: @dmansworldpd

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Through one-plus month of the baseball season, closing has proven hazardous to the mental and physical health. If closers are not getting rocked, they are tearing ACLs while shagging fly balls in batting practice.

The Indians have been fortunate. Not only has their closer survived, he has thrived. Chris Perez has 10 saves in 11 opportunities and a 3.09 ERA after Friday’s 6-3 victory over Texas. Since a rocky appearance on Opening Day, when he gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning in a blown save against Toronto, he has allowed one run in 11 innings of 12 appearances.

While Perez has lived up to his All-Star status of last season, a number of his peers has had all sorts of issues. Here is a sampling of what already has befallen closers:

Mariano Rivera, Yankees: The greatest ever suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee during batting practice Thursday at Kansas City. He was tracking a fly ball hit by former Indian Jayson Nix. Rivera, 42, is a 12-time All-Star.

Brian Wilson, Giants: The three-time All-Star underwent Tommy John surgery in April, the second such surgery of his career.

Joakim Soria, Royals: The two-time All-Star injured his right elbow in spring training and underwent reconstructive surgery.

Sergio Santos, Blue Jays: He was placed on the disabled list April 21 because of right-shoulder inflammation. He is 2-for-4 in save chances and owns a 9.00 ERA in six games.

Carlos Marmol, Cubs: He entered Friday at 2-for-4 and owned a 6.23 ERA in 12 games. He was replaced as closer this week.

Heath Bell, Marlins: He entered Friday at 3-for-6 and owned an 11.74 ERA in 10 games. He went 43-for-48 last year with San Diego.

J.J. Putz, Diamondbacks: He entered Friday at 5-for-7 and owned a 6.48 ERA in nine games. He went 45-for-49 last year.

Jose Valverde, Tigers: He entered Friday at 4-for-5 and owned a 5.59 ERA in 10 games. In the 2011 regular season, he was 49-for-49 and had a 2.24 ERA.

Alfredo Aceves, Red Sox: He entered Friday at 5-for-7. In the two blown saves, he gave up eight runs.

Perez did not need to be informed as to how difficult it has been for closers this season.

“We’re sort of a fraternity,” he said. “We feel for each other, because we understand how short people’s memories can be. You’re always one or two bad streaks away from them calling for your job. And that’s how it should be. When you have the lead after eight innings, you’ve got to win those games.”

Nothing to see here: Perez does not care what a TV replay might suggest or what White Sox outfielder Alex Rios says. Perez reiterated Friday afternoon that he directed no ill will toward Rios at the end of Thursday night’s game in Chicago.

As Rios grounded to Asdrubal Cabrera for what was to become the final out of a 7-5 Tribe victory, Perez is seen turning toward the first-base line and yelling. As Rios runs to first, Perez’s head follows him.

Rios reached the bag and immediately turned. He flapped his arms and barked at Perez.

“When I was running to first, he was yelling the whole way,” Rios told reporters. “I don’t know what was wrong with him. He just started yelling at me. For no reason. I couldn’t tell what he was saying; he was just staring and saying something.”

Perez said he simply was pleased that the Indians prevailed.

“I wasn’t talking anything to Rios,” he said. “I couldn’t care less if it was he or (A.J.) Pierzynski or (Paul) Konerko — whoever made the last out, I was going to do the same thing. It was for the team. We had just won a series on the road.”

Perez maintained that his look toward the first-base line only was to follow the ball into first baseman Casey Kotchman‘s glove.

“When I knew Cabby had it, I yelled, ‘(Expletive), yeah! Game’s over!”’ Perez said. “I watched the ball go to first, then Rios spun on me. I said, ‘What? The game’s over. What’s your problem?”’

Rios said: “If you are celebrating, that’s not the right way to do it.”

Rios said he has no history with Perez — but he does have a walkoff grand slam against him. On Sept. 10, 2011, Rios’s blast with one out in the 10th inning gave the White Sox a 7-3 victory.

“Rios was happy after he hit that homer, as he should be,” Perez said. “And I had a right to be happy after we won a series in their place.”

Give him his due: Count Perez and his teammates among those pleased that Rivera has vowed to return next season. Rivera is MLB’s all-time saves leader with 608.

“You want to see him keep going, for all that he’s meant to the game,” Perez said. “As an athlete, you always want to go out on your own terms and not because you’re not good enough or because of injury.”

Tribe left fielder Johnny Damon said: “He’s one of the greatest pitchers of all time — not just relievers.”

Damon, who played with Rivera in New York, said the closer always has enjoyed running down balls in batting practice.

“For the past 17 years, he probably was the best center fielder the Yankees had,” Damon said. “That’s how good of a shagger he was.”

The Indians have officially signed outfielder Johnny Damon.

The 38-year-old reached agreement with Cleveland last week on a one-year, $1.2 million pending a physical. Damon, who needs 277 hits to reach 3,000 for his career, is at the team’s complex in Goodyear, Ariz., preparing to join the Indians. Damon can earn another $1.4 million in performance bonuses.

The Indians are the fourth team in four years for Damon, who played in 150 games for Tampa Bay last season. Damon has played at least 140 games in 16 straight seasons

Cleveland looked at him as a spark for their offense after a sluggish start. However, the Indians broke out the bats last weekend in a three-game sweep of Kansas City.

The Indians open a three-game set in Seattle on Tuesday.

SEATTLE — The Indians officially announced the signing of outfielder Johnny Damon to a minor league deal. Damon, 38, is working out at their spring training facility in Goodyear, Ariz., and is expected to join the big league club in May.

Damon has played 17 years in the big leagues. He spent last season with Tampa Bay, but went unsigned this winter as a free agent and did not go to spring training. He’ll spend time in Goodyear working on his conditioning before playing games in extended spring training.

He’s then expected to play for Class AAA Columbus before joining the Tribe.

“We have to see his physical shape,” said manager Manny Acta. “He’ll start baseball activities after a couple of days.

“Extended spring is a great way for guys to get in shape and have at bats. . .He’s going to have to go play in the outfield as well.”

As for how long Damon will be in Goodyear and when he’ll move to Columbus, Acta wasn’t sure.

“I don’t have an exact amount of at bats or days he’ll be down there,” said Acta. ” When we decide he’s OK, he’ll go to Columbus and play a few games.”

The left-handed hitting Damon is a career .286 (2,723-for-9,529) hitter with 1,643 runs, 516 doubles, 107 triples, 231 homers and 1,120 RBI. He has 404 steals in 507 attempts and a career on-base percentage of .353.

Just how he fits into the Indians’ lineup will be up to Acta. It’s expected that he’ll share left field with Shelley Duncan. Damon has spent most of his career hitting in the leadoff spot.

“It’s not going to be strictly a platoon,” said Acta, on how he’ll use Damon and Duncan. “We do want to get Shelley’s bat in lineup.

“He’s not coming in here with any type of promise. He understands we’ll put the best team on the field to win ballgames. If it’s Shelley, it’s Shelley. If it’s Aaron Cunningham, it’s Aaron Cunningham. . .whoever is here. If it’s Johnny, it will be him.”

The former No.1 pick of the Kansas City Royals hit .261 (152-for-582) with 29 doubles, seven triples, 16 homers and 73 RBI for the Rays last year. He scored 79 runs and stole 19 bases in 25 attempts.

Damon played 150 games for the Rays, including 135 at DH and 16 in left field. With Travis Hafner a fixture at DH, it’s going to take some lineup juggling to get Damon regular playing time.

“This guy still had a pretty decent season last year,” said Acta. “I know we had a lot of injured, but other than Asdrubal Cabrera nd Carlos Santana, who had a better season than him here?”

The Indians signed Damon for $1.25 million with another $1.4 million in performance bonuses. The deal does not include a no-trade clause, but does have an agreement in which Damon can be released if he’s not getting playing time or isn’t a good fit on the team.

Acta said that when Damon initially joins the Indians, he’s not going to be playing six or seven days a week. That could allow him to continue to work on his swing and conditioning.

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians have officially signed outfielder Johnny Damon.

The 38-year-old reached agreement with Cleveland last week on a one-year, $1.2 million pending a physical. Damon, who needs 277 hits to reach 3,000 for his career, is at the team’s complex in Goodyear, Ariz., preparing to join the Indians. Damon can earn another $1.4 million in performance bonuses.

The Indians are the fourth team in four years for Damon, who played in 150 games for Tampa Bay last season. Damon has played at least 140 games in 16 straight seasons

Cleveland looked at him as a spark for their offense after a sluggish start. However, the Indians broke out the bats last weekend in a three-game sweep of Kansas City.

The Indians open a three-game set in Seattle on Tuesday.