Jacoby Ellsbury Hits Walk-Off Home Run To Beat Indians
BOSTON (AP) -- Jacoby Ellsbury got the winning hit for the second night in a row, homering with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Indians Wednesday night.
Joe Smith (2-2) got the first two batters on groundouts before Ellsbury hit an 0-1 pitch over the wall in straightaway center field. Ellsbury singled to center with one out to end Tuesday night's game.
Jonathan Papelbon (4-0) pitched a perfect ninth.
Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez each had two hits for Boston, which won for the 10th time in 13 games.
Jason Kipnis homered for the fourth straight game for Cleveland, which lost for the 10th time in 13 games to fall to .500 for the first time since the fourth game of the year. Starter Carlos Carrasco allowed three runs -- two earned -- on nine hits and three walks while striking out five before leaving with the game tied 3-all in the eighth inning.
Boston starter Tim Wakefield took a 3-2 lead into the seventh inning with a chance for his 200th career win, but he gave up doubles to Lonnie Chisenhall and Ezequiel Carrera to tie it. Red
Sox manager Terry Francona headed to the mound, leading Wakefield to pound his fist in frustration and drawing boos from the crowd.
The fans cheered Wakefield as he left the field, but he did not react. He allowed three runs on five hits and two walks in all, striking out six in 6 2-3 innings.
The right-handed knuckleballer, who turned 45 on Tuesday and is the oldest active player in the majors, will have another chance at becoming the 108th pitcher with 200 wins -- the 89th since 1900 -- is expected to come on Monday or Tuesday night.
Carrasco, who had lost five straight starts, was suspended six games and fined $2,500 for throwing at the head of Kansas City's Billy Butler on Friday night. He said he would drop his appeal and begin the suspension after Wednesday night's game.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
