Jarrod Saltalamacchia looked perfectly comfortable in his new role — ace pinch-runner.

The Boston catcher made a headfirst dive across home plate to score the winning run on Jacoby Ellsbury’s single in the ninth inning, giving the Red Sox a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians on a rainy Tuesday night.

“I just kept going and, like I said, my speed alone just kind of took over,” Saltalamacchia said with a straight face.

Saltalamacchia came in for fellow catcher Jason Varitek, who at 39 years old was not going to be running the bases in a tie game in the ninth inning if the Red Sox had another option on the bench.

Varitek had already done his part by starting the rally with a one-out single, followed by Josh Reddick’s blooper to right that put Saltalamacchia in scoring position at second as Ellsbury came to bat.

Ideally, the Red Sox would have rather had the roles reversed — the speedy leadoff hitter on second waiting to be driven home by one of Boston’s burly catchers.

But Saltalamacchia, who noted he has legged out two triples this season, was off and running once he saw Ellsbury’s hit off of closer Vinnie Pestano (1-1) drop in center field. Saltalamacchia chugged around third, then made a diving slide beat Eziquiel Cabrera’s throw home.

Catcher Carlos Santana caught the ball wide of the plate and couldn’t reach across in time to beat Saltalamacchia.

“He came in and had a great slide,” Ellsbury said.

Jonathan Papelbon (3-0) got the win after shutting down the Indians on just 10 pitches in the ninth. Boston posted its sixth walk-off win of the season.

Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall hit solo homers for Cleveland’s runs in a game delayed at the start by rain for one hour, 35 minutes.

Indians starter David Huff gave up one unearned run and three hits in five innings, and tied his career high with six strikeouts. Huff has allowed just one earned run in three starts this season.

“I liked the way we battled today against this ballclub,” Cleveland manager Manny Acta said. “A lot of credit goes to David Huff, who pitched a tremendous ballgame, despite warming up twice because of the rain situation.”

Boston scored in the second on a wild pitch that actually struck out Varitek. Huff followed that by striking out Darnell McDonald and Ellsbury.

Huff left with a 2-1 lead on Chisenhall’s homer into the right-field corner in the fourth.

“He really made some good pitches when we didn’t play good defense behind him and made him throw a ton of extra pitches. He really buckled up and made some great pitches. I can’t say enough about him — he gave us a tremendous outing.”

Reliever Rafael Perez took over for the Indians in the sixth and the first batter he faced was Kevin Youkilis, who tied it at 2-all with a towering solo shot that hit one of the signs above the Green Monster.

Youkilis was ejected after his next at-bat, when he struck out on a checked swing and argued on his way back to the dugout.

Kipnis, who homered in his last at-bat Monday, drove the first pitch he saw from Josh Beckett into the Boston bullpen in the first to put the Indians up 1-0.

Beckett was pulled after six innings, allowing six hits and striking out seven.

NOTES: Indians RHP Carlos Carrasco said he planned to drop his appeal of a six-game suspension after he starts against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night. Carrasco was suspended and fined $2,500 for throwing at the head of Kansas City’s Billy Butler last week. Newly acquired Ubaldo Jimenez will start Friday night at Texas and the Indians are off Monday, giving them some flexibility with their rotation. … Red Sox SS Marco Scutaro, who left Monday night’s game with dizziness, was sent for tests Tuesday that cleared him to play, but he was held out of the starting lineup by manager Terry Francona. Scutaro entered the game in the ninth inning after Youkilis’ ejection. Mike Aviles, who started at short, moved over to third. … Injured Boston SS Jed Lowrie is playing rehab games at Triple-A Pawtucket, where he went 1 for 3 Tuesday and could return soon.

CLEVELAND –

Cleveland Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco has been suspended six games and fined for throwing at Kansas City’s Billy Butler.

Carrasco was ejected in the fourth inning of Friday night’s game after he threw a ball at Butler’s head. Carrasco had just given up a grand slam to Melky Cabrera and took out his frustration on Butler, who managed to avoid the rising fastball.

The Indians said Monday that Carrasco will appeal his suspension and undisclosed fine and plans to start Wednesday night in Boston.

“It’s standard when that happens. He’s appealing and he’s going to be able to pitch here,” Cleveland manager Manny Acta said at Fenway Park before his team’s scheduled game against the Red Sox.

Carrasco said he was upset that Cabrera stood at home plate and admired his homer, but denied the pitch to Butler was intentional.

A lineup of former Indians returned to Northeast Ohio for the team’s annual charity golf outing on July 28, 2011 at Quail Hollow in Concord Township. Several, including Carlos Baerga, “Sudden” Sam McDowell, Jim “Mudcat” Grant, “Super” Joe Charboneau and Paul Shuey, took time to reflect on their careers in Cleveland and to update Tribe fans on what they’re doing now.

Watch all videos

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jose Bautista hit a two-run double to help the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Cleveland Indians 7-1 on Sunday and head to the All-Star break with a three-game winning streak.

Brett Cecil (2-4) gave up one unearned run over six innings for his first win in three starts since being recalled from the minors June 30. The left-hander allowed six hits and walked three. He struck out six, got out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, and stranded nine runners overall.

Eric Thames’ two-run homer in a five-run third off Carlos Carrasco (8-6) put the Blue Jays ahead.

Toronto moved within two games of .500 and have Bautista going to the All-Star Game as baseball’s home run leader with 31 — along with 65 RBIs and a .334 average.

Cleveland has lost four of six and despite a lineup hit hard by injuries, remain in a battle with Detroit for the AL Central lead. They entered play Sunday a half game ahead of the Tigers. The last time Cleveland was in first place at the break was 1999, when they went on to win their fifth straight division title.

Thames followed a single by Yunel Escobar with his fourth homer for a 2-0 lead. Carrasco held Bautista — who had three homers in his previous two games — to a rare opposite-field single hit where the second baseman normally would have been stationed if not in a shift against the pull-hitting slugger. Bautista got to third on a pair of groundouts before Carrasco walked Travis Snider and gave up an RBI single on the first pitch to J.P. Arencibia that made it 3-0.

After pitching coach Tim Belcher went to the mound to try and settle Carrasco, the right-hander wild pitched the runners to second and third, and Corey Patterson hit a ground-rule double into the seats in right-center for a 5-0 lead.

Carrasco released some frustration when he got Rajai Davis to bounce back to him to end the inning. Carrasco barehanded the ball, then fired it hard, forcing first baseman Carlos Santana to make a lunging stab of the near-errant throw.

It was the second consecutive rough outing for Carrasco following a 7-2 stretch over nine starts. The Blue Jays scored five runs on seven hits in three innings against him. On Tuesday, he allowed six runs and 10 hits in four innings to the New York Yankees.

Bautista’s two-run double off Rafael Perez made it 7-0 in the sixth. Continued…

Jack Hannahan had an RBI single in the bottom half for Cleveland.

Joe Smith worked a scoreless seventh for the Indians. He has not allowed an earned run in his last 25 outings, covering 23 2-3 innings since May 12.

Notes: Cleveland stranded 13 overall and went 3 of 12 with runners in scoring position. … Jays LHP Luis Perez struck out Travis Hafner on four pitches in seventh. On Thursday, Hafner hit the first pitch from the rookie for a walkoff grand slam. … Jays manager John Farrell is encouraged by the progress of two pitchers on the disabled list. RHP Casey Janssen, out since June 15 with a strained right forearm, worked a scoreless inning at Double-A New Hampshire, hit 92 mph on the radar gun, and is scheduled for another rehab outing Monday. Jesse Litsch, out since May 20 with a sore shoulder, yielded 12 hits over four innings at Triple-A Las Vegas. Farrell said Litsch is “physically fine” and will start again Friday.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jose Bautista hit a two-run double to help the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Cleveland Indians 7-1 on Sunday and head to the All-Star break with a three-game winning streak.

Brett Cecil (2-4) gave up one unearned run over six innings for his first win in three starts since being recalled from the minors June 30. The left-hander allowed six hits and walked three. He struck out six, got out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, and stranded nine runners overall.

Eric Thames’ two-run homer in a five-run third off Carlos Carrasco (8-6) put the Blue Jays ahead.

Toronto moved within two games of .500 and have Bautista going to the All-Star Game as baseball’s home run leader with 31 — along with 65 RBIs and a .334 average.

Cleveland has lost four of six and despite a lineup hit hard by injuries, remain in a battle with Detroit for the AL Central lead. They entered play Sunday a half game ahead of the Tigers. The last time Cleveland was in first place at the break was 1999, when they went on to win their fifth straight division title.

Thames followed a single by Yunel Escobar with his fourth homer for a 2-0 lead. Carrasco held Bautista — who had three homers in his previous two games — to a rare opposite-field single hit where the second baseman normally would have been stationed if not in a shift against the pull-hitting slugger. Bautista got to third on a pair of groundouts before Carrasco walked Travis Snider and gave up an RBI single on the first pitch to J.P. Arencibia that made it 3-0.

After pitching coach Tim Belcher went to the mound to try and settle Carrasco, the right-hander wild pitched the runners to second and third, and Corey Patterson hit a ground-rule double into the seats in right-center for a 5-0 lead.

Carrasco released some frustration when he got Rajai Davis to bounce back to him to end the inning. Carrasco barehanded the ball, then fired it hard, forcing first baseman Carlos Santana to make a lunging stab of the near-errant throw.

It was the second consecutive rough outing for Carrasco following a 7-2 stretch over nine starts. The Blue Jays scored five runs on seven hits in three innings against him. On Tuesday, he allowed six runs and 10 hits in four innings to the New York Yankees.

Bautista’s two-run double off Rafael Perez made it 7-0 in the sixth.

Jack Hannahan had an RBI single in the bottom half for Cleveland.

Joe Smith worked a scoreless seventh for the Indians. He has not allowed an earned run in his last 25 outings, covering 23 2-3 innings since May 12.

Notes: Cleveland stranded 13 overall and went 3 of 12 with runners in scoring position. … Jays LHP Luis Perez struck out Travis Hafner on four pitches in seventh. On Thursday, Hafner hit the first pitch from the rookie for a walkoff grand slam. … Jays manager John Farrell is encouraged by the progress of two pitchers on the disabled list. RHP Casey Janssen, out since June 15 with a strained right forearm, worked a scoreless inning at Double-A New Hampshire, hit 92 mph on the radar gun, and is scheduled for another rehab outing Monday. Jesse Litsch, out since May 20 with a sore shoulder, yielded 12 hits over four innings at Triple-A Las Vegas. Farrell said Litsch is “physically fine” and will start again Friday.

Updated Jun 8, 2011 4:04 AM ET

CLEVELAND (AP)

Carlos Carrasco got the Cleveland Indians back on track exactly the way they took command in the AL Central: with strong pitching.

Carrasco (5-3) took a shutout into the ninth inning and the Indians pushed across an unearned run to defeat the Minnesota Twins 1-0 Tuesday night, ending a season-high five-game losing streak.

”Over the years, I have discovered a shutout is the best way to stop a losing streak,” Manager Manny Acta said with a sly smile.

Carrasco gave up three hits, struck out six and walked one over 8-1/3 innings as Cleveland avoided its first eight-game losing streak ever at Progressive Field. The Indians opened the year 14-2 at home. They have not lost eight in a row at home since June 8-21, 1975, at old Cleveland Stadium.

”Awesome, man,” second baseman Orlando Cabrera said. ”Carlos was really good, so was the defense and we got a win.”

Chris Perez replaced Carrasco after Ben Revere slapped a one-out single through the hole at shortstop in the ninth. Revere took second on a weak groundout by Alexi Casilla before Perez got Michael Cuddyer on a called third strike for his 15th save in 16 chances.

”Shame on me if I let the kid lose the ballgame after the way he pitched,” Acta said about replacing Carrasco. ”I wanted to give him a chance for the complete game, but he had to go 1-2-3 (in the ninth). You have a closer for a reason.”

Cuddyer strongly disagreed with the final call.

”I didn’t think that pitch was a strike at all,” said Cuddyer, who whirled around and got into the face of plate umpire Adrian Johnson. ”I thought it was off the plate.”

Minnesota had a five-game winning streak snapped despite Francisco Liriano (3-6) coming off the disabled list and matching Carrasco for five innings. The left-hander showed no effects of an inflamed throwing shoulder that had sidelined him since May 22. He gave up three hits and three walks, striking out seven.

Carlos Santana doubled to open the Indians’ fourth, reaching third when the ball got past left fielder Delmon Young for an error. Santana scored on a groundout to short by Shelley Duncan.

Carrasco used a lively fastball and sharp breaking ball to get 14 outs on grounders.

”That’s as good as I’ve seen him at the big-league level,” said Lou Marson, who has caught the right-hander since both were 17-year-olds in the Philadelphia farm system in 2004. They came to Cleveland as part of the Phillies’ trade for Cy Young winner Cliff Lee in July 2009.

”It was a great performance by Carlos,” Marson said. ”He’s going to be really, really good one day.”

He wasn’t all that bad Tuesday. Carrasco retired 13 in a row until Young doubled over the head of center fielder Grady Sizemore with one out in the fifth. Young took third when Luke Hughes followed with an infield hit up the middle. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera snagged it with a dive, but Hughes beat the throw to first.

Carrasco then got Brian Dinkelman to foul out and fanned Rene Rivera – who lost control of the bat waving at strike three. The bat went sailing about 110 feet and landed past third base.

”That was big,” Carrasco said of getting out of his only jam. ”Sometimes I try to be too perfect. Tonight, I felt good, had all my pitches in control and the defense was great.”

In the seventh, Justin Morneau drew a one-out walk. Young followed with a bouncing ball up the middle that shortstop Cabrera got to and shoveled to second baseman Orlando Cabrera with his glove to start a rally-killing double play.

”That nifty double play saved Carlos,” Acta said. ”Carlos has impressive stuff, he just needs to trust it.”

Twins lefties went just 1 for 15 against Carrasco, who had been belted around for a .368 average by left-handers entering the game.

”I used a two-seam fastball against them,” he said. ”It had a lot of sink.”

Carrasco has won four of five starts since May 17. He went on the DL with an inflamed right shoulder on April 28, four days after lasting only three innings in a start in Minnesota.

Notes: Cleveland’s 20-11 home record is best in the AL. … The last time Cleveland won 1-0 with an unearned run was April 19, 1990, against the Yankees. … Cleveland broke an eight-game losing streak to the Twins. Indians DH Travis Hafner, out since May 20 with a strained right oblique, should start taking batting practice in ”three or four days,” according to manager Manny Acta. … Morneau played first base after being the DH Monday. He didn’t play Saturday and Sunday because of a sore left wrist. … Twins OF Denard Span returned to Minnesota to have his sore neck examined by team doctors. He was hurt sliding into home plate Friday against Kansas City and didn’t play Saturday and Sunday. Manager Ron Gardenhire said Span is experiencing the same lightheaded symptoms he had from an inner ear infection in 2009.

Read More: twins baseball, minnesota twins baseball, indians baseball, cleveland indians baseball, twins at indians, twins vs indians, twins indians recap, Delmon Young (LF – MIN), Shelley Duncan (DH – CLE), Carl Pavano (P – MIN), Michael Cuddyer (RF – MIN), Alexi Casilla (2B – MIN), Chuck James (P – MIN), Francisco Liriano (P – MIN), Phil Dumatrait (P – MIN), Asdrubal Cabrera (SS – CLE), Carlos Carrasco (P – CLE), Rene Rivera (C – MIN), Chris Perez (P – CLE), Justin Masterson (P – CLE), Carlos Santana (C – CLE), Luke Hughes (3B – MIN), Brian Dinkelman (2B – MIN), Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Twins at Cleveland Indians, Jun 7, 2011 6:05 PM CDT

As good as Francisco Liriano was in his return to the mound on Tuesday night, it’s hard for any pitcher to get a victory when the offense behind him only generates three hits.

That’s the situation the Twins found themselves in on Tuesday night, as Carlos Carrasco turned in a brilliant performance, and a Delmon Young miscue in the field ultimately made the difference in the Cleveland Indians’ 1-0 win over the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field.

The only run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Indians’ first baseman Carlos Santana ripped an offering from Liriano down the left field line for a sure double, and Young appeared to be in a position to play the carom perfectly, but he didn’t reach down far enough and the ball skipped past him, allowing Santana to go to third. Young was charged with an error on the play, as it was a ball he clearly should have had.

Shelley Duncan then grounded out to shortstop, and Santana came in to score and give the Indians a 1-0 lead. It didn’t seem like much at the time, but as it turned out to be the only run of the game, it wound up being huge.

The Twins had a chance to answer in the top of the fifth, as Young ripped a one-out double to center for the Twins’ first hit, and Luke Hughes followed with a shot up the middle that Asdrubal Cabrera made an outstanding play on. . .Hughes still reached first base, but the play kept Young from coming around to score, giving the Twins runners on first and third with one out. Unfortunately, Brian Dinkelman and Rene Rivera were unable to get the run across, and the Twins wasted their opportunity.

Carlos Carrasco pitched 8.1 innings in this one, allowing only three hits and four baserunners in total while striking out six. He gave way to Indians’ closer Chris Perez in the ninth inning with one out and a runner on first. He then got Alexi Casilla to ground out, and retired Michael Cuddyer on strikes to end the game. The victory raises Carrasco’s record to 5-3, and the save for Perez was his 15th on the year.

Liriano was the hard luck loser in this one, pitching five innings, allowing just three hits and the one unearned run while walking three and striking out seven. The loss drops him to 3-6 on the year. Chuck James and Phil Dumatrait combined for three innings of one-hit ball in relief of Liriano.

The same two teams will conclude the series on Wednesday morning in Cleveland. . .yes, Wednesday morning, as things will get started at 11:05 AM Central time. Carl Pavano (3-5, 4.83 ERA) will take the mound for Minnesota, while the Indians will give the ball to right-hander Justin Masterson (5-4, 3.28 ERA).