Altuve hits 3 homers as Astros roll in Game 1

(TSX / STATS) -- HOUSTON -- Presented a lengthy, rhetorical question seeking perspective on his historic three-homer game, Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve responded with a simplicity matching his successful approach at the plate, cutting to the chase with a one-word answer that succinctly summarized if he previously enjoyed such an incredible, singular performance in his career.

"Never," Altuve said.

Altuve recorded the 10th three-homer game in postseason history as the Astros jumped on Cy Young Award contender Chris Sale to claim an 8-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday at Minute Maid Park in Game 1 of an American League Division Series.

Altuve (3-for-4, three RBIs) became the first player in franchise history and the ninth overall to homer three times in a postseason game, doing so twice off Sale (0-1).

The five-time All-Star, MVP candidate and three-time batting champion followed a solo shot from Alex Bregman in the first inning with his own solo homer, staking Houston to a 2-0 lead.

Altuve hit a two-out solo home run off Sale in the fifth and a leadoff dinger against Boston right-handed reliever Austin Maddox in the seventh.

He etched his name alongside players such as Babe Ruth, who accomplished the feat twice, Albert Pujols, George Brett and Reggie Jackson. When pressed further, Altuve expressed mild shock.

"I couldn't believe any of my homers," Altuve said. "I hit one and I was like, 'Wow!' And the second one was like, 'Wow, what's going on here?' (After the third homer), oh, I don't know. I got to wake up."

The Astros grabbed a 1-0 series lead by socking four home runs overall while getting two-RBI hits from Marwin Gonzalez and Brian McCann.

Sale, making his first career postseason start, was shaky throughout his five-plus innings. He surrendered nine hits and one walk and was charged with seven runs while striking out six.

Gonzalez drove home Evan Gattis and Josh Reddick with his two-out double in the fourth. Gattis and Reddick reached in succession to chase Sale in the bottom of the sixth.

"It sucks," said Sale, who threw 100 pitches. "Never really gave my team a chance to win. Put them in a hole early. They fought back and they fought back hard, and I gave it right back to them. It happens. Terrible time for it to happen."

Said Red Sox manager John Farrell: "Any time he mis-located, particularly in the middle of the plate, they made him pay for it."

Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (1-0) labored following a quick start, coughing up a 2-0 lead before rallying to a strong finish. Verlander needed 79 pitches to complete four innings, having surrendered a two-out single to Sandy Leon in the second inning and a sacrifice fly to Rafael Devers that scored Mookie Betts in the fourth.

However, Verlander tossed just 20 pitches total in the fifth and sixth, aided in the former frame by an inning-ending double play off the bat of Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi. Verlander then retired the side in order in the sixth to complete his outing having allowed two runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts. He earned his eighth career postseason victory.

"I got to give a lot of credit to (catcher) McCann," Verlander said. "We have been working really hard on my changeup and was able to execute a good one there and get a double play. I turn around and I'm pretty fired up and I see Mac jumping up and down, too. He was just as fired up as I was."

NOTES: Red Sox DH Eduardo Nunez was lost to a right knee injury in the first inning, pulling up lame running out a ground ball. Nunez had played in just one game since Sept. 9 due to his balky knee. After the game, Boston replaced him on the roster with OF Chris Young, meaning Nunez wouldn't appear in the AL Championship Series if the Red Sox advance. ... Astros manager A.J. Hinch remains undecided on the role for RHP Lance McCullers, whose injury-marred second half limited him to six starts following the break. RHPs Brad Peacock and Charlie Morton outperformed McCullers as starters, thus McCullers could be used out of the bullpen. ... Boston RHP Austin Maddox earned an ALDS roster spot over RHP Matt Barnes. ... With 2B Dustin Pedroia and 3B Nunez hobbled, the Red Sox opted to keep an extra infielder (Deven Marrero) on their ALDS roster.

Astros' Verlander aims to remain hot vs. Red Sox

Stats, LLC

(TSX / STATS) -- HOUSTON -- While all eyes will focus on Astros right-hander Justin Verlander when he takes the mound on Thursday in Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox at Minute Maid Park, what makes Houston a viable World Series threat is the offense set to support its new ace.

What gives the Astros, champions of the AL West, the presumed edge over the AL East champion Red Sox is a lineup that led the majors in batting average (.282), on-base percentage (.346), and slugging percentage (.478).

Houston not only finished second in home runs with 238, but it complemented that power by striking out in only 17.3 percent of plate appearances, the lowest mark the big leagues.

Verlander, 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA following his trade-deadline acquisition from the Detroit Tigers, will attack his 17th career postseason start with his usual intensity and commitment to perfection. But the Astros are capable of providing the cushion needed for Verlander (7-5 with a 3.39 ERA in the postseason) to be less than perfect yet still thrive.

"There's a lot of different things in there that made this offense click," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "And to do it for six months in and do it relatively consistently, and obviously at the end of the season lead in a lot of different categories, it's part of what makes us a good team."

Boston left-hander Chris Sale (17-8, 2.90 ERA) earned the opportunity to be first up in attempting to stymie the powerhouse Houston offense. He has enjoyed dizzying career success against the Astros, going 5-1 with a 1.31 ERA over six starts while producing 65 strikeouts against five walks over 48 innings. After 260 regular-season games, Sale will make his first postseason start.

Acquired from the Chicago White Sox last offseason, Sale provided Boston everything it envisioned when the organization opted to swap four prospects, including highly regarded infielder Yoan Moncada, for his services. He produced a campaign worthy of AL Cy Young Award consideration, and he excelled fronting a rotation that failed to meet lofty preseason expectations.

"Wow, he's been unbelievable since Day One, not only just, obviously, the stuff he has on the mound but his presence in the clubhouse," Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. "The way he attacks every day, he's always trying to get better. He's a pretty special guy to play with, and we're pretty excited to have him out there on the mound."

The Red Sox will be as excited to have Pedroia and third baseman Eduardo Nunez, both of whom were dinged in the final weeks of the season, back in the lineup. Boston can take added comfort in the season-long excellence of its bullpen, anchored by closer Craig Kimbrel and bolstered by right-handers Joe Kelly and Matt Barnes, plus David Price, Addison Reed and Carson Smith, all of whom joined the club or embraced a new role down the stretch.

Given all their viable options, the Red Sox won't be compelled to stick with a scuffling starter against the Astros. The need to squeeze an additional out from a fatiguing starter is mitigated by the availability of several relievers capable of doing a superior job when their name is called. That includes Price, a former Cy Young-winning starter who was placed in a relief role in September after missing six weeks due to left elbow inflammation.

"I think when you think about October, you're taking an all-hands-on-deck mentality," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Whether it's a three-game series, five-game series or seven-game series, Game 1 is important. But I think our guys are primed and ready with that urgency and know that decisions can happen quick, and we're prepared for that."

Red Sox blank hapless Reds

(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- The Boston Red Sox still have plenty of decisions to make in terms of their postseason pitching staff. But, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez is pitching himself into the conversation.

Mitch Moreland hit a three-run home run and Rodriguez allowed only three hits through 7 2/3 innings, lifting the Red Sox to a 5-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.

The win reduced Boston's magic number to five to clinch the American League East title. The Red Sox (90-64) lead the New York Yankees by four games.

"We're playing good ball," Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez said. "We're getting on base. Getting clutch hits."

The Yankees defeated Toronto 5-1 on Saturday to clinch a wild-card spot.

Rodriguez (6-6) had six strikeouts and walked two.

It was his longest outing since May 21. Rodriguez has made six straight quality starts on the road and four consecutive starts of two earned runs or fewer.

"He maintained his stuff all the way through seven innings," Boston manager John Farrell said. "He used three pitches at both sides of the plate. Using his secondary pitches to make the fastball even better."

Cincinnati (66-89) committed two errors and had a passed ball while losing its fifth straight game.

Rookie right-hander Robert Stephenson (5-6) made his 10th start of the season for the Reds and was charged with two earned runs in six innings.

Xander Bogaerts led off Saturday's game with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball by Tucker Barnhart. Bogaerts scored on a sacrifice fly by Brock Holt to put the Red Sox ahead 1-0.

Rodriguez did not allow a hit until Joey Votto's single with one out in the fourth.

"He's very comfortable on the mound," Vazquez said. "He has a good feeling out there. We're on the same page. (Three times) I just put down whatever you want to throw."

Boston's defense helped Rodriguez out.

Votto was thrown out trying to reach second after his single by Andrew Benintendi.

It was Benintendi's 11th outfield assist this season, tying him for third in the American League.

Scooter Gennett singled leading off the fifth to extend his hitting streak to a season-high seven games. But, he was erased on an inning-ending 3-6-3 double play.

Stephenson's fielding error on Holt's grounder back to the mound opened the floodgates in the sixth.

Benintendi walked, then Moreland followed with a three-run blast to center, putting Boston ahead 4-0.

It was Moreland's 20th homer of the season, and it snapped a 0-for-19 skid.

"He threw a changeup that split the plate in half, top of the zone," Moreland said. "I got the barrel on it. It gave us some breathing room."

Reds manager Bryan Price believed Stephenson's error on a routine grounder, contributed to his poor location on the Moreland homer.

"That's one the challenges of this game when you make a mistake, get beyond it," Price said. "That's part of the game. It can linger. That's not an excuse. That may have had nothing to do with what followed."

Benintendi, a Cincinnati area native, prompted cheers from his hometown fans with an RBI single in the seventh to make the score 5-0.

Reds right-hander Luke Farrell, son of the Red Sox manager, pitched the ninth inning, marking the first time a major-league player has faced his manager father since the Chicago Cubs' Moises Alou faced his dad, Felipe's San Francisco Giants, in 2004.

Farrell walked two in a scoreless frame, then offered a subtle tip of his cap toward his dad in the dugout as he walked off.

"There was a lot of internal conflict going on there," John Farrell said. "It was somewhat surreal. It's a proud day. Class move by Bryan (Price) to put him in there."

NOTES: Boston Red Sox RF Mookie Betts was scratched from the lineup with a left foot contusion. Betts fouled a pitch off the top of his foot in his second at-bat on Friday, according to manager John Farrell. Brock Holt started in RF. Betts is expected back in the lineup on Sunday. ... Cincinnati Reds CF Billy Hamilton was given a day off on Saturday. He returned to the lineup Friday after missing 13 games with a fractured left thumb. ... The Reds honored RHP Bronson Arroyo prior to Saturday's game. He is retiring following the season after 14 seasons, including three with the Red Sox.

Fister pitches Red Sox to 6-1 win over Blue Jays

(TSX / STATS) -- BOSTON -- Red Sox manager John Farrell admits he did not know exactly what he was getting when Boston picked veteran right-hander Doug Fister off the baseball scrapheap.

"Not in terms of the consistent performance," Farrell said after Fister turned in another strong performance to lead the Red Sox to a rain-soaked 6-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.

"We knew we were getting a guy with a veteran presence we felt like we needed to add to the starting depth ... but to say that when we got him from the Angels (on waivers) that he would be running a streak of starts consecutively like he is, no -- he's surpassed the initial expectation. He's doing a great job."

Fister, who has gone from an extra starter to forcing his way into the team's postseason thinking, worked seven innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out a season-high nine. Fister (5-7) is 5-2 in his past seven starts, and Wednesday marked his fourth straight outing of at least seven innings.

In all four games, he has been scored on in the first inning and not scored on again. In fact, hitters are 8-for-20 (.400) with five earned runs allowed in the four first innings, and just 6-for-83 (.072) from the second innings on -- all adding up to a 3-1 record and 1.50 ERA.

"He gets into the rhythm of the game," Farrell said. "Takes him an inning. Takes him an inning to find his release point. It's been uncanny how similar the beginning of games are and how he finishes out.

"To me it's finding that release point and then he stays out of the middle of the plate and then he gets the feel for that curveball, which is, as we've come to find out, that's a key pitch for him."

Said Fister: "The first inning was a bit of a struggle for me (Wednesday). I was having some trouble locating the sinker down and in to the lefties, and that kind of caused me some troubles. I had to make some adjustments."

Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run homer and added another RBI, and Eduardo Nunez had two hits and two of Boston's four stolen bases as the Red Sox made it 12-4 over the last-place Blue Jays this season. Boston is 29 of 32 stealing bases in the 16 games vs. Toronto.

"He's pitched really special," Bradley said of Fister. "It's definitely been a lot of fun. He works really fast, and he attacks the strike zone and is getting outs when he needs to."

A night after the Red Sox drained their bullpen by using 12 pitchers in a 19-inning win, Fister walked in a run in the first but yielded only two hits after the opening inning.

"He really kept us off balance, and I thought he used his breaking ball pretty good and mixed his pitches well under these conditions," said Toronto bench coach DeMarlo Hale, managing his fifth straight game with John Gibbons tending to personal business in Texas. "He's done a very good job. Spotted his fastball, mixed his breaking ball in. Kept us off balance a little bit. So you tip your hat to him, he pitched well."

The win raised the Red Sox's lead over the rained-out New York Yankees to four games atop the American League East.

Bradley's 15th homer of the season capped a four-run fourth inning that chased Joe Biagini (3-10). The Toronto starter allowed five runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Asked to sum up his outing, which came on the heels of a career-high 10 strikeouts and seven shutout innings, Biagini, who hasn't had a win since June 21, said, "Bad. That's a short answer for you."

Boston relievers Joe Kelly and Matt Barnes worked a perfect inning apiece to finish off the win.

NOTES: Red Sox manager John Farrell, speaking on WEEI radio, said if he had been aware of electronic sign-stealing against the Yankees, he would have shut it down. ... Red Sox LHP David Price (inflamed left elbow) threw 30 pitches in the bullpen before the game, and the plan is for him to throw a simulated game Saturday. ... Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia, still nursing his left knee problem, was slotted in as the DH with the threat of wet grounds. He left for a pinch hitter in the sixth inning ... Both teams are off Thursday. The Blue Jays open a six-game homestand Friday against the Detroit Tigers. The Red Sox continue their nine-game homestand Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. ... Blue Jays RHP Marcus Stroman, hit on the right elbow by a comebacker in his last start, hopes to start Friday.

Red Sox, Yankees accuse each other of stealing signs

The rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees is taking another twist, with each team accusing the other of using technology to steal signs during games.

The Red Sox admitted to the commissioner's office that their trainers had received signals from video replay personnel and then relayed that information to some players, according to a report in the New York Times on Tuesday.

"I'm not going to comment on what's been written or any of that, but this has been a concern of mine in baseball for a long time," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "There has to be a way to protect signs.

"Electronics is the world we live in today. (Things) continue to change as we move on. There has to be something that a catcher and pitcher and middle infielders can do to combat all this.

"Football went to headset. I think we have to try something."

Major League Baseball was alerted to the scheme, which included a trainer in the dugout looking down at his Apple Watch and relaying a signal to players, who may have used the information to determine the type of pitch being thrown, by the Yankees.

"Obviously, every game we play against those guys is a big game and an (important) game, they're probably looking for any little edge that they can get," Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner said.

New York general manager Brian Cashman filed a complaint with the commissioner's office, including video shot of the Boston dugout.

"Aware of the rule. Electronic devices are not to be used in the dugout, but beyond that the only thing I can say it's a league matter at this point," Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

Baseball investigators corroborated the Yankees' claims, according to the New York Times.

The Red Sox responded by filing their own complaint on Tuesday, alleging that New York uses cameras from its television broadcast on the YES network to steal signs.

"No chance. No, we're not doing it," Girardi said of Boston's counterclaim.

No discipline has been announced.

LEADING OFF: New jerseys across the Majors, Jones back in Boston

A look at what's happening all around the majors today:

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BRIGHT IDEA

Uniforms, bats and spikes will have a different look across the big leagues this weekend. Major League Baseball has relaxed the rules for a few days, so players can put nicknames on their jerseys. It'll be "Bringer of Rain" for Toronto slugger Josh Donaldson, "Kiiiiid" for Angels star Mike Trout and "Nerd Power" for Milwaukee infielder Eric Sogard. MLB wants players to show their personalities, so fans will also see bright colors for bats, cleats and catcher's masks. At Yankee Stadium, this marks quite a break from tradition - the pinstriped uniforms never include any names on the back. Now, it will be "All Rise" for rookie Aaron Judge, and a lot more when New York hosts Seattle.

BACK IN BOSTON

Orioles star Adam Jones plays for the first time at Fenway Park since a tense series in early May during which he was the target of racial taunts by fans. The Red Sox organization apologized to Jones, and the center fielder was later given a standing ovation by the Boston crowd. Earlier this week, Commissioner Rob Manfred said Major League Baseball planned to issue a policy for fan behavior at all stadiums next season.

ROOKIE RIPS

Phillies newcomer Rhys Hoskins has become just the third player in major league history to hit eight home runs in his first 15 games. The 24-year-old joined Carlos Delgado and Trevor Story to accomplish the feat. Next up for Hoskins will be Jose Quintana and the Cubs at Citizens Bank Park.

FEELING BETTER?

The Mets will place All-Star outfielder Michael Conforto on the disabled list and are considering surgery after he dislocated and suffered a tear in his left shoulder while swinging at a pitch. Asked if Conforto's season was over, manager Terry Collins said: "I can't go out there and predict that," but that was before an MRI revealed a tear in the posterior capsule of the shoulder. Conforto is hitting .279 with 27 home runs and 68 RBIs as New York gets set for a series at Washington.

GETTING CLOSER

Indians first baseman Carlos Santana has missed three straight starts because of tightness in his back. Manager Terry Francona hopes Santana can play when the AL Central leaders host Kansas City. Santana is hitting .250 with 18 home runs and 64 RBIs.

Indians pound Sale again, beat Red Sox 13-6

(TSX / STATS) -- CLEVELAND -- Most teams in a mini-slump would prefer not to face Chris Sale. The Cleveland Indians aren't one of those teams.

Jay Bruce and Francisco Lindor homered, Yandy Diaz had four hits, and the Indians continued their domination of Sale with a 13-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night at Progressive Field.

Giovanny Urshela added a career-high four RBIs as Cleveland unleashed an 18-hit attack in a game started by Sale, the leading candidate for the American League Cy Young Award.

The two teams, both American League division leaders, split their four-game series.

In his shortest outing of the season by far, matching the shortest outing of his career, Sale (14-6) pitched three innings, giving up seven runs, six earned, on seven hits. He walked a season-high three and struck out a season-low three as his career record against Cleveland fell to 5-8 with a 4.78 ERA.

In two starts against the Indians this year, Sale has a 14.63 ERA, having given up 13 runs on 15 hits in eight innings.

"I wish I knew why I haven't had much luck against this team," Sale said. "Tonight, I stunk. Everything I threw was out over the plate, center cut. Right there."

Boston manager John Farrell said, "Cleveland is a good fastball hitting team. It's a matter of throwing your fastball to both sides of the plate and then slowing them down with your secondary stuff."

In the previous two games, Cleveland was held to a total of four hits and two runs by Boston pitching, with the Red Sox winning both times. Thursday was a different story.

"I don't know," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "It's not like our guys say, 'Oh good, Sale's pitching!' We've done better than most teams against him, but he's really good."

Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer (13-8) needed 104 pitches to get through 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.

"It was kind of a struggle," Bauer said. "I wasn't sharp and didn't command the ball very well, but the team picked me up."

Boston's Mitch Moreland had three hits, including two home runs, and four RBIs.

The Indians, held to four hits in their previous 18 innings, had four hits in their first eight batters. Cleveland opened it up with a four-run second inning against Sale.

RBI hits by Roberto Perez, Urshela and Lindor led that charge.

Boston got a run back in the third. Moreland, leading off the inning, hit a 1-2 pitch from Bauer deep into the lower deck in right field for his 16th home run, cutting the Cleveland lead to 4-1.

"He gets into those hot streaks and is a power threat in that part of the lineup," Farrell said of Moreland, the seventh-place hitter.

In the bottom of the third, the Indians continued their assault on Sale. Edwin Encarnacion led off the inning with a walk. Bruce struck out, but Brandon Guyer also walked. Diaz, who had a single, two doubles and a triple, then ripped a double off the right field wall, scoring Encarnacion to make it 5-1.

Perez grounded out to the mound for the second out, but Urshela followed with a two-run single to center, scoring Guyer and Diaz and giving Cleveland a 7-1 lead.

"We really did a good job offensively and made one of the best pitchers in baseball work hard," Francona said.

A two-run triple by Xander Bogaerts and an RBI single by Moreland in the fourth shaved Cleveland's lead to 7-4.

An RBI single by Urshela in the bottom of the fifth pushed the Indians' lead to 8-4.

Bruce's solo home run and an RBI double by Perez in the sixth inning made it 10-4. Lindor capped a three-hit night with a solo homer in the Indians' three-run seventh inning.

"We couldn't slow them down even after Chris left," Farrell said.

The Red Sox scored twice in the eighth, the runs coming on a two-run homer by Moreland.

NOTES: Boston RF Mookie Betts left the game in the eighth inning due to a bruised right knee. ... OF Rajai Davis, acquired in a trade with Oaklandon Wednesday, joined the Red Sox on Thursday. He took over in the field for Betts and went 0-for-1. ... The Red Sox also activated RHP Blaine Boyer from the 10-day disabled list while optioning INF Deven Marrero and RHP Hector Velazquez to Triple-A Pawtucket. ... Indians RHP Josh Tomlin will make a rehab start Friday with rookie-level Mahoning Valley (Ohio). Tomlin has been on the disabled list since July 31 due to a left hamstring strain. ... Cleveland 1B Carlos Santana missed his third consecutive game with a lower back strain. Manager Terry Francona said he hopes Santana will be able to return to the lineup Friday.

LEADING OFF: Rajai Davis joins BoSox, Ray returns for Dbacks

A look at what's happening all around the majors today:

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ON THE MOVE

Speedy outfielder Rajai Davis is set to join Boston for a game in Cleveland between division leaders. The Red Sox acquired Davis on Wednesday from Oakland for an 18-year-old outfielder, making the move on the same day they put center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. on the 10-day disabled list because of a sprained left thumb. The 36-year-old Davis hit .233 with 26 stolen bases, five home runs and 18 RBIs in 100 games with the A's this season. Last year, he led the American League with 43 steals with the Indians.

WELCOME BACK

Arizona lefty Robbie Ray (9-5, 3.11 ERA) will be activated from the disabled list to start the series finale vs. the Mets at Citi Field. The first-time All-Star last pitched in the majors on July 28 in St. Louis, where he suffered a concussion after being struck in the head by a line drive.

CARLOS COMING BACK

Astros star Carlos Correa will begin a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Fresno. Correa has been out since July 17 after having surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. He is expected to play seven innings. Manager A.J. Hinch isn't sure how long he'll need to play in the minors before coming off the disabled list.

TAKE YOUR TIME

Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano can rest up, a day after an early exit in Atlanta. He hit two doubles before leaving with tightness in his left hamstring. Cano is batting .277 with 19 homers and 78 RBIs. Seattle is off before opening a weekend series at Yankee Stadium.

ROLLING

Dodgers lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu (4-6, 3.45 ERA) is undefeated in his last eight starts for the NL West leaders, going 2-0 with a 2.22 ERA since June 17. He'll try to extend the streak when Los Angeles plays the Pirates at PNC Park.

NEW SETTING

The Blue Jays hope a change of scenery will help pitcher Tom Koehler. Toronto got the 31-year-old righty last weekend from Miami, where he was 1-5 with a 7.92 ERA in 12 starts. He'll make his first start for his new club at Tampa Bay.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Red Sox acquire OF Davis from A's

The Boston Red Sox acquired another player they hope will help them down the stretch and in the postseason, obtaining outfielder Rajai Davis from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league outfielder Rafael Rincones, the teams announced Wednesday.

To make room for Davis on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox designated outfielder Steve Selsky for assignment.

With Jackie Bradley Jr. going on the disabled list earlier Wednesday, the Red Sox need help in the outfield.

Davis, 36, is batted .233 with 17 doubles, two triples, and five home runs in 100 games with the A's this season. He also stole 26 bases in 32 attempts.

In 30 games since the All-Star break, Davis has hit .303 with 11 stolen bases.

Davis has recorded five assists and two double plays in 79 games in center field, also making nine starts in right field and two in left field.

Davis appeared in the postseason in 2014 with the Detroit Tigers and in 2016 for the Cleveland Indians. In Game 7 of last year's World Series against the Chicago Cubs, he tied the score at 6-6 with a two-out, two-run home run off Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning.

Rincones, 18, has played 57 games this season for the Dominican Summer League Red Sox, batting .258 with one home run, 19 RBIs, and eight stolen bases while leading the team with 38 runs scored, 13 doubles, and three triples.

All of his 51 defensive starts have come in right field, where the Venezuelan native has recorded six assists.

Selsky, 28, appeared in eight games for the Red Sox this season after making his first career Opening Day roster, going 1-for-9 with a double and appearing defensively at third base (two games) and in center field (one game).

Red Sox ride HRs, 3-hit pitching to win over Indians

(TSX / STATS) -- CLEVELAND -- There was not much wiggle room, so Drew Pomeranz did not wiggle at all.

Mitch Moreland and Eduardo Nunez homered, while Pomeranz and three Boston relievers dominated a depleted Cleveland lineup, combining on a three-hitter as the Red Sox beat the Indians 6-1 on Wednesday night at Progressive Field.

Moreland hit a solo home run off Corey Kluber in the fifth inning, and Nunez belted a two-run shot off Bryan Shaw in a four-run Boston ninth.

Cleveland's run came on a home run by Edwin Encarnacion in the eighth inning off reliever Addison Reed.

Boston pitchers, for the second consecutive game, shut down an Indians lineup that was missing four regulars who are out with injuries, three of them on the disabled list.

In the past two games, Boston (73-53) has held Cleveland (69-56) to a total of two runs and four hits. On Tuesday night, Doug Fister pitched a one-hitter. On Wednesday night, Pomeranz got help from three relievers.

Pomeranz (13-4) pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings and gave up two hits with nine strikeouts and four walks. Joe Kelly, Reed and Craig Kimbrel finished out the win.

"Pomeranz gave us more than we anticipated," Boston manager John Farrell said. "On a night when there was no margin of error, going against Kluber, Drew was outstanding."

Indians manager Terry Francona tipped his cap to Pomeranz, who was selected by Cleveland with the fifth overall pick in the 2010 draft. However, the lefty was traded away before he reached the big leagues.

"He was throwing his fastball up, getting it past our barrels, and had a very good curveball. He really gave us fits," Francona said.

The hard-luck loser was Kluber (12-4), who pitched 7 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs and four hits (three infield singles), including Moreland's home run. Kluber struck out 12 and walked one.

"We knew coming in it was going to be a battle and we would have to grind out at-bats," Boston left fielder Brock Holt said. "Fortunately, we were able to do that, but he's pretty good."

The Indians are playing without left fielder Michael Brantley, right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall and second baseman Jason Kipnis, who are all on the DL. First baseman Carlos Santana also sat out Wednesday due to lower back tightness.

Francona won't use the injuries as an excuse.

"Sometimes you don't have everybody. That doesn't mean you can't win," he said. "It just makes it more challenging. But we're not going to back down. We're going to keep fighting."

Leading 1-0, Boston added a run in an eighth-inning rally that began with two outs and nobody on base.

Kluber, who was clearly running out of gas, walked Holt and hit Nunez with a pitch. Mookie Betts then hit a sharp grounder to third. Giovanny Urshela dived for the ball, but it glanced off his glove and rolled into the outfield as Holt scored to make it 2-0.

"We had good at-bats all night long against one of the best pitchers in baseball," Farrell said.

Encarnacion's 29th homer of the season came with two outs in the eighth on a 2-0 pitch from Reed.

In the ninth, Boston scored a run on a passed ball. Holt hit an RBI double, and Nunez followed two-run homer.

"Anytime you can score late like that, and put the other team away, it's important," Holt said. "Especially against this team, who we're probably going to see in the postseason."

Kluber retired 14 of the first 15 batters he faced until the Red Sox broke the scoreless tie in the fifth when Moreland hit a 1-0 pitch over the right field wall for his 15th home run of the season.

"I tried to throw a cutter in on him, but it got too much of the plate, and he took advantage of it," Kluber said.

Farrell said, "Scoring one run off Kluber felt like an accomplishment."

NOTES: Indians 2B Jason Kipnis was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain. INF Erik Gonzalez was recalled from Triple-A Columbus. ... Cleveland 1B Carlos Santana missed his second consecutive game because of tightness in his lower back. He could be back in the lineup Thursday. ... Boston placed OF Jackie Bradley Jr. on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb and recalled INF Deven Marrero from Triple-A Pawtucket. ... Boston acquired OF Rajai Davis in a trade with Oakland. The Red Sox sent minor league OF Rafael Rincones to the A's and designated OF Steve Selsky for assignment. ... The Red Sox, who are last in the American League in home runs, have won 22 games this season without hitting a homer, the most in the majors. No other AL team has more than 15 such wins.

Fister fires one-hitter as Red Sox rout Indians

(TSX / STATS) -- CLEVELAND -- It was all Doug Fister, from start to finish.

Fister pitched a one-hitter and Eduardo Nunez had a home run and a career-high five RBIs as the Boston Red Sox rolled to a 9-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night at Progressive Field.

In his third start against Cleveland in the past 23 days, Fister (3-6) gave up a home run to Francisco Lindor leading off the first inning, then held Cleveland scoreless and hitless the rest of the way for his first complete game since Sept. 26, 2014.

He walked two, struck out six and hit a batter while throwing 114 pitches.

"He was outstanding," Boston manager John Farrell said. "The third pitch of the game gets hit out of the park for a home run, and after that, he pitched nine no-hit innings. A very impressive outing."

Fister retired the last 14 batters he faced to end the game in authoring the first one-hitter by a Boston pitcher since Jon Lester threw one against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 10, 2013.

"He put on a clinic," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He worked quick, was real efficient, he pitched the way you're supposed to. He went right through us."

Nunez hit a two-run double in the seventh inning and a three-run homer in the eighth.

Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco (12-6) pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up six runs and eight hits with six strikeouts and one walk.

"He made a lot of mistakes with his fastball, and when he did, he paid for it," Francona said.

Jackie Bradley Jr. also homered for the Red Sox, who had 12 hits -- five of them for extra bases.

But the star of the show was Fister.

"This night was Doug Fister," Farrell said. "He and (catcher) Sandy Leon were in lockstep. He stayed out of the middle of the plate and had all four pitches working."

In the first inning, Boston's Andrew Benintendi reached base when he grounded into a forceout at second. Benintendi stole second and scored on a single by Hanley Ramirez on a 3-2 pitch from Carrasco, giving the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.

Cleveland quickly tied it when Lindor led off the bottom half with his 21st home run of the season, which went into the seats in right field.

"The ball was carrying, and Cleveland has a strong offense, but after the home run, Doug was in complete control," Farrell said.

"The first batter made me pay for a bad curveball, and that kind of knocked me back a little," Fister said. "That's a quality offense, but our guys played great defense behind me, and our offense was great. Everything worked."

After Lindor's home run, Cleveland only had three baserunners, none of whom got past first base.

"He located his fastball with movement, changed speeds, and when he did make mistakes, we didn't hit them," Francona said.

Boston scored again in the second inning, which began with Xander Bogaerts' double to left-center field. Bogaerts went to third on an infield groundout by Mitch Moreland and scored on a sacrifice fly by Leon to the base of the left field wall.

Boston extended its lead in the fifth on Bradley's 14th home run, a solo shot over the center field wall.

Nunez's two-run double in the seventh inning was followed by an RBI double by Benintendi, as the Red Sox stretched a 3-1 lead to 6-1.

NOTES: Indians 2B Jason Kipnis was removed from the game in the third inning because of right hamstring tightness. ... Boston CF Jackie Bradley Jr. left the game in the seventh inning with a left thumb injury. X-rays were negative, but he will fly to Boston on Wednesday for further tests. ... The Indians placed LHP Andrew Miller (right knee patellar tendinitis) and RHP Danny Salazar (right elbow inflammation) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled RHP Shawn Armstrong and INF/OF Yandy Diaz from Triple-A Columbus. ... Indians 1B Carlos Santana, who was removed from the Monday game in the eighth inning with tightness in his lower back, did not play. He is expected to be out for a few days. ... Boston placed RHP Matt Barnes on the 10-day DL with a lower back strain. The Red Sox recalled RHP Hector Velazquez from Triple-A Pawtucke

LEADING OFF: Granderson joins Dodgers, trio goes for No. 15

A look at what's happening all around the majors Saturday:

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DODGERS LOADING UP

Curtis Granderson could join the Dodgers at Detroit after the veteran outfielder was acquired from the New York Mets late Friday night. Los Angeles is running away with the NL West. The Dodgers are 86-34 after beating the Tigers 8-5 in the series opener. The 36-year-old Granderson - hitting .228 with 19 homers and 52 RBIs this season, gives Los Angeles another option for the outfield along with Cody Bellinger, Yasiel Puig, Chris Taylor and Joc Pederson.

SEEKING NO. 15

Boston's Chris Sale, Arizona's Zack Greinke and Kansas City's Jason Vargas will all be trying to catch the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw for the major league lead with 15 wins. Sale (14-4, 2.51 ERA) takes the mound against the Yankees' CC Sabathia (9-5, 4.05) as the Red Sox look to continue a hot stretch that has seen them win 13 of 15 to open a five-game lead over New York in the AL East. Greinke (14-5, 3.01) will start against Minnesota's Jose Berrios (10-5, 4.27). Greinke has allowed 18 earned runs while going 6-1 in his past nine starts. Vargas (14-6, 3.45) goes for his career-best 15th win and will face Cleveland's Trevor Bauer, who pitched in relief Thursday night.

TEXAS HOMECOMING

White Sox left-hander Derek Holland is set to face the Rangers in Arlington for the first time Saturday night after spending his first eight seasons with Texas. He signed with Chicago as a free agent after going to the World Series twice with the Rangers and becoming a fan favorite. Holland's old teammates roughed him up for five runs in 5 1/3 innings in a 10-4 Texas victory at Chicago on July 1. "It's going to be way different," Holland said. "Just being able to pitch where it all started. This is where all the memories began."

REDS' ROOKIE ROTATION

Right-hander Robert Stephenson is expected to come off the DL to start against the Braves on Saturday night, giving Cincinnati the chance to have four rookies in its rotation. Sal Ramano started Friday night, Asher Wojciechowski has started seven games and could return to the rotation next week, and Luis Castillo is scheduled to start Sunday.

STRUGGLING

Pittsburgh and Philadelphia will be looking to end six-game losing streaks, tied for the longest current skids in the majors. The Pirates will send Chad Kuhl (5-8, 4.64) against St. Louis' Michael Wacha (9-5, 3.85). The Cardinals had an eight-run lead in the eighth inning Friday night before holding on for an 11-10 win. The Phillies' Jerad Eickhoff (3-7, 4.45) faces the Giants' Ty Blach (8-8, 4.37) in a matchup of the NL's two worst teams. ... Detroit takes an AL-leading five-game skid into the middle game of their series against the Dodgers.

Late rally lifts Red Sox over Yankees

(TSX / STATS) -- BOSTON -- When you average more than six runs a game, you're going to win a lot of baseball games.

The Boston Red Sox have scored 6.27 runs per game over their last 15.

They've won 13. And when you're hitting like that, being behind doesn't really matter.

"We are pretty good at the comebacks," Mitch Moreland said after his two-run pinch single in the seventh inning capped a four-run seventh inning and gave Boston the lead in a 9-6 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night.

"We are never out of the game," Moreland said. "For us to come back with four in the seventh and take the game back, we just never quit. We stay on the gas pedal the entire game. It has been great for us lately."

The win, which moved the Red Sox five games ahead of their rivals atop the American League East, came after Boston survived a 65-minute seventh inning -- the Yankees scoring four to take the lead and the Red Sox answering right back with four in the bottom half.

A wild inning.

"On both sides," Boston manager John Farrell said. "You're talking about two bullpens that have performed very well throughout the course of the year. It's an hour long, eight runs combined, a lot of different things went the offensive way on both sides."

Farrell lost his starter, Drew Pomeranz, to back spasms with one out in the fourth inning and then tried to patch things together. Brandon Workman got it through the fifth with his team ahead 3-0 (on homers by Rafael Devers, his seventh in 19 games, and Christian Vazquez), but Matt Barnes gave up a two-run homer to Todd Frazier and couldn't get through the sixth.

Joe Kelly got out of that inning but gave up a long homer to Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (his ninth in his last 21 games) and he had to be rescued by Addison Reed.

With the bases loaded, one out and the Yankees up 6-3, Reed (1-1) struck out Aaron Judge (his record 35th straight game with a K) and got Sanchez on a soft liner. He worked through the eighth for his first Red Sox win and, after Jackie Bradley Jr. singled home two runs off Aroldis Chapman, Craig Kimbrel fanned the side in the ninth for his 29th save.

New York went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 14.

"We had more opportunities to score runs that we didn't cash in on too," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "You can look at a lot of different things."

It all added up to a second straight bad loss to the Red Sox.

"It's a tough loss," Girardi said. "Our guys fought really hard to get in front of the lead, really good at-bats from a lot of different people. It's frustrating but we'll be back."

Ronald Torreyes smacked a long two-run single and Aaron Hicks was hit by a pitch to give the Yankees a 6-3 lead in the top of the seventh.

A Mookie Betts sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Andrew Benintendi set the stage for Moreland's winner off Tommy Kahnle (2-4).

"The more you are in those situations, the more comfortable you will feel. I think that has shown," said Moreland. "We get in those situations and we just feed off of each other. Everyone has been a hero at one point. It has been fun to watch and be a part of."

Before the game, Girardi said Chapman, who has been bothered by a hamstring problem and poor pitching, was still his closer. But Chapman relieved with his team down in the eighth and he failed again.

"We need to get him right," his manager said, adding he would "sleep on" whether Chapman is still the closer.

Pomeranz, 6-0 in his previous 11 starts and a 12-game winner, left runners in scoring position in the first three innings. After Benintendi made a diving catch of a Didi Gregorius line drive to start the fourth, Pomeranz fell behind Chase Headley 2-0.

Pomeranz, trying to beat the Yankees for a second straight time, could be seen stretching and then, after throwing a few warmup pitches, was removed and immediately began treatment.

"He did have this last year when he first arrived here," said Farrell. "We've got to get the spasms calmed down."

Vazquez went 3-for-3 with a walk, two RBIs and three runs scored. He also stole second on the back end of a double steal with Devers in the eighth inning.

NOTES: LHP David Price didn't throw for a third straight day due to stiffness in his troublesome left elbow. ... Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka (shoulder) threw at Fenway Park on Friday and is expected to return next week in Detroit. ... Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia, on the disabled list with a sore left knee, will resume baseball activities next week in Boston with the team in Cleveland. ... RHP Rick Porcello will work the series finale against the Yankees with Doug Fister pushed back to Monday in Cleveland. ... LHP CC Sabathia, 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two starts Boston this season, comes off the DL to pitch against Red Sox ace Chris Sale on Saturday night. Sabathia said Friday he thought about retirement when his right knee acted up Aug. 8. Sale has pitched well in all three games against New York this season but doesn't have a win. ... The Red Sox unveiled a Tony Conigliaro display on the Fenway concourse on the 50th anniversary of his serious beaning by Jack Hamilton.

LEADING OFF: Stanton powers into NY, Red Sox host Yankees

A look at what's happening all around the majors today:

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BROADWAY BOUND

Giancarlo Stanton takes his home run show to the Big Apple when Miami visits the New York Mets. Stanton, who leads the majors with 44 homers, had gone deep in six straight games and 10 of 12 before San Francisco kept him in the ballpark Wednesday. "He's hurt us enough in the past to know that he can be so dangerous," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We've noticed a change in his approach at the plate. So we've got to make certainly some adjustments in how we're going to pitch him." Stanton said he would enjoy facing new Mets closer AJ Ramos, traded by the Marlins late last month. The big slugger said his former teammate told him he's going to cool off his bat. "It'll be funny facing him. We've been talking trash to each other," Stanton said.

FENWAY SHOWDOWN

The AL East-leading Red Sox host the rival Yankees in the latest installment of their rivalry as they open a three-game weekend series. Boston, winner of 12 of 14, leads the division by four games over New York, which is coming off a four straight wins against the crosstown-rival Mets. Red Sox left-hander Drew Pomeranz (12-4, 3.39 ERA) looks to extend his career-best six-game winning streak when he faces the Yankees' Jordan Montgomery (7-6, 3.94).

SURGING ANGELS

The Los Angeles Angels have won seven of eight games to vault into the second AL wild-card spot heading into a weekend series at Baltimore. Five of the victories have been comebacks as the Angels have improved to 62-59 and jumped over Minnesota, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Kansas City and the Orioles in a crowded AL wild-card race. Star center fielder Mike Trout has led the resurgence as he is batting .343 with seven home runs, 19 RBIs, 26 walks and 22 runs scored while helping Los Angeles go 17-12 since his return on July 14 after missing 39 games due to a thumb injury.

INDIANS SURGING, TOO

Cleveland looks to bounce back after a 4-2 loss at Minnesota in the second game of a doubleheader Thursday night snapped a six-game winning streak. The AL Central Division-leading Indians open a weekend series at Kansas City with Corey Kluber (11-3, 2.71) going against the Royals' Ian Kennedy (4-8, 4.80).

LAST-PLACE MATCHUP

Philadelphia and San Francisco continue a four-game series between the two worst teams in the National League. The Giants, cellar-dwellers in the West, send Matt Moore (3-12, 5.71) against the major league-worst Phillies and Zach Eflin (1-4, 5.76). San Francisco won 5-4 in the series opener Thursday night.

Red Sox stun Cardinals with Betts' walk-off double

(TSX / STATS) -- BOSTON -- Mookie Betts is batting just .269 this season, well down from the .318 he hit in 2016.

But his 2017 season with runners in scoring position tells an entirely different story.

"I think it's his focus in those moments and none bigger than here tonight," Boston manager John Farrell said after Betts ripped a two-out, two-run double in the ninth inning to give the Red Sox a dramatic 5-4 interleague victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.

The Red Sox honored the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Impossible Dream team that came up a game short with a loss to the Cardinals the World Series -- and then went out and pulled off a dream win.

Thanks to Betts.

In the third inning, he delivered a sacrifice fly as Boston cut a four-run deficit in half. Then, with runners on first and second and two outs in the ninth, he raised his batting average with runners in scoring position to .390 (39-for-100) with the winning hit.

He is 18-for-47 (.382) with runners in scoring position and two outs.

"I was just going up and trying to put a good swing on a good pitch and that's what I was able to do," Betts said after hitting a 3-2 pitch from Boston native John Brebbia.

The hit really shouldn't have been a winner and should have sent the game into extra innings. Jackie Bradley Jr. was trying to score from first and the relay throw home from shortstop Paul DeJong had him at the plate. But Yadier Molina couldn't hold the throw as Bradley clumsily got the plate on his second try.

"I was watching it unfold," Betts said of the play at the plate. "It was a good throw there. I thought they had him. He didn't catch it so we won."

The win, which completed a four-game Boston sweep of the Cardinals this season (two games this week and two in May), lifted the Red Sox to 3-48 this season when trailing after eight innings and kept them 4 1/2 games ahead of the New York Yankees in the American League East.

The Red Sox have won 12 of their past 14 games.

The Cardinals have lost three straight after an eight-game winning streak and fell 2 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, a player when the 2004 team lost the World Series to Boston and the manager when the same thing happened in 2013, was asked after the game how many times he thought this one was his to take home.

"Enough," he said "It's frustrating."

And he wasn't even around for the finish.

Trevor Rosenthal started the inning with a 4-2 lead and gave up a leadoff homer to Xander Bogaerts, his first home run since July 5, before walking Mitch Moreland on a 3-2 pitch that bounced to the backstop. Zach Duke (0-1) came on and struck out pinch-hitter Brock Holt on a 3-2 pitch after falling behind 3-0, then went 3-0 on Bradley before walking him at 3-2.

Brebbia entered, and with the count 0-2 on Eduardo Nunez, the pitcher held the set too long and plate umpire Chris Segal called time. That got Molina upset, and Matheny came out. Matheny, still fuming over a check-swing call earlier in the inning, was ejected by Segal.

"He said he needed timeout," Farrell said of the umpire. "The fact that he was kind of going at it with our catcher, you hate to see it at that particular point of the game.

"But a lot of barking going on all game long, the strike zone, not getting a call on a check swing in a big situation, just trying to get guys to do the job in big situations. And a lot of frustration at the end."

Nunez fouled out before Betts delivered against Brebbia, who grew up a Red Sox fan.

Boston closer Craig Kimbrel (5-0), who hadn't pitched since Sunday, threw a perfect ninth inning for the win.

St. Louis starter Lance Lynn allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings, but his throwing error delivered a run. He hasn't lost since July 4.

The Cardinals collected five hits in scoring all four of their runs in the second inning against starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who is 0-1 with a 4.78 ERA in six starts since coming off the disabled list and hasn't won since May 26.

Kolton Wong had three hits, an RBI and a run for the Cardinals.

The four-run second inning was wild, with Bradley twice trying to nail a runner trying to score from third base on a single. He was successful the second time, throwing out Matt Carpenter.

NOTES: Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Lonborg, Ken Harrelson, Rico Petrocelli and Reggie Smith headed the list of members of the 1967 Red Sox "Impossible Dream" team honored prior to the game. ... The Red Sox will pitch LHPs Drew Pomeranz and Chris Sale on Friday and Saturday against the New York Yankees but still hadn't decided between RHPs Rick Porcello (on regular rest) and Doug Fister for Sunday. ... Boston will honor broadcaster Jerry Remy, battling cancer for the fifth time, and his 30 years in the TV booth on Sunday. He will throw out the first pitch. ... Boston LHP David Price (elbow) delayed a throwing session a day and will throw Thursday from flat ground. ... The Cardinals visit the Pirates this weekend for three games, the first two in Pittsburgh and the third, on Sunday night, in a small minor league stadium in Williamsport, Pa.

Red Sox vie for season series sweep of Cardinals

Stats, LLC

(TSX / STATS) -- BOSTON -- Back in May, Boston's Eduardo Rodriguez and St. Louis' Lance Lynn faced each other when the Red Sox and Cardinals squared off at Busch Stadium in the first of four games this year between the old World Series rivals.

On Wednesday night, the pitchers face each other again when the teams meet in the second contest of the two-game Boston portion of the season series.

Lynn looks to continue his recent pitching spurt, while Rodriguez again seeks for his first victory since coming off the disabled list after recovering from his latest knee injury.

Lynn (10-6, 3.12 ERA) also will attempt to keep his team from dropping all four 2017 games to the Red Sox -- and from losing their third in a row overall after an eight-game winning streak.

The 30-year-old right-hander, who lost that May game to the Red Sox, was the subject of trade rumors when the Cardinals were teetering on the brink at the deadline. However, Lynn stayed as he and his team took off. St. Louis is tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for second place in the National League Central, 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs.

Lynn is 4-0 with a 1.45 ERA in his past seven starts, and he hasn't lost since July 4. He has held opponents to two runs or fewer in an major-league-best 18 starts and one or fewer in 12 -- tied for the major league lead.

He is 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two regular-season starts against the Red Sox. He also pitched twice against Boston in the 2013 World Series, starting and losing Game 4.

In his most recent start, Thursday against the Kansas City Royals, Lynn took a line drive off the head and stayed in the game.

When manager Mike Matheny and trainer Adam Olsen came out to see him, Lynn, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, said: "Go back to the dugout where you belong." Told they were doing their job by checking on his wellbeing, Lynn snapped: "I'm trying to do mine. Get off the mound."

Lynn wound up allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and five walks over six innings. He got a no-decision in the Cardinals' 8-6 win.

Boston's active roster is a combined 5-for-36 against Lynn, while no Cardinal has more than three career at-bats against Rodriguez.

Rodriguez (4-3, 3.80 ERA) is 0-1 with a 4.39 ERA in five starts since coming off the DL, but he deserved a better fate his last two times out. He gave up two runs on four hits in six innings against the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 4, then yielded two hits in six shutout innings against the Yankees on Friday in New York. He walked two and fanned seven during a game the Yankees rallied to win.

The Red Sox, winners of 11 of their last 13 games, improved to 12-4 in interleague play this season with a 10-4 victory over St. Louis on Tuesday night. Boston holds a 4 1/2-game lead the second-place Yankees in the American League East.

Red Sox back Porcello, crush Cardinals with eight-run fifth

(TSX / STATS) -- BOSTON -- Rick Porcello rode the loudest offensive support in the major leagues to a 22-4 record and a Cy Young Award last season.

This year, the support was down -- and so was Porcello.

That may be changing.

"Last three times out the worm has turned a little bit," Boston manager John Farrell said after Porcello cashed in on an eight-run sixth inning for his third straight victory, a 10-4 Red Sox win over the St. Louis Cardinals. "We've started to score some runs for him in a big way and he's gone out and logged innings."

After scoring four runs during the right-hander's four straight losses, the Red Sox have scored 27 runs in his last three starts. Suddenly, Porcello is 7-14 -- 3-0 in August.

"I feel good. The whole ballclub feels good right now," Porcello said. "So keep pushing forward and continue to play good baseball."

Hanley Ramirez and Sandy Leon drove in two runs apiece in the big inning. Ten consecutive Red Sox batters reached base, and 13 came to the plate while chasing Mike Leake (7-11) and propelling Boston to its 11th win in 13 games.

Boston is 3-0 against St. Louis, 12-4 against the National League.

But despite a 15-hit attack, the highlight of the night was a 5-4-3 triple play turned on a Yadier Molina grounder, in a 1-0 game in the fourth inning.

It was started by rookie sensation Rafael Devers, a third baseman who also had two more hits and drove in another run.

"For him to be so young and play beyond his years has been special to watch," teammate Mitch Moreland said of Devers, 20.

Ahead 9-0, Porcello allowed three runs in the sixth inning. However, he worked through seven in his second straight quality start. He was supported by the team's first triple play in six years and a pair of double plays (one on the slow-footed Molina), in the first five innings.

"I thought he came out tonight very sharp," Farrell said. "He had good location early on and then when they did put a couple of men on, he found a way to put a ball on the ground."

The Red Sox maintained their 4 1/2-game lead on the New York Yankees in the American League East, winning in St. Louis' first visit to Fenway Park since it lost Game 6 of the 2013 World Series.

Jackie Bradley Jr. also drove in two runs, and Xander Bogaerts contributed three singles and his first RBI since July 21.

Dexter Fowler had three hits, including a two-run double, for the Cardinals, who lost their second straight after an eight-game winning streak. They remained 1 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central.

Leake was touched for eight runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. In his past two starts, he has allowed 20 hits and 13 runs (12 earned) in 9 1/3 innings.

"He pitched out of a pretty big mess in the first (after four straight singles had a run in and the bases loaded) and we thought he was going to roll for a while," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said, "but the fifth got him.

"You've got a team that's swinging the bat well. He wasn't getting a lot of chases, so he was trying a couple of different balls below the zone. Eventually you've got to come back and challenge them."

Said Leake: "I was just too much on the plate, letting them hit balls instead of making them see it move off the plate."

The triple play was the first for the Red Sox since they turned one against the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 16, 2011. It was the first turned against the Cardinals since May 9, 2015 -- and Molina hit into that one, too.

"Those plays happen," Matheny said.

NOTES: Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia will be out longer than the minimum 10 days in his second straight stint on the disabled list because of his balky left knee. ... Cardinals 3B Jedd Gyorko, who received a cortisone shot in his right knee Sunday, was able to return Tuesday after sitting out the weekend. ... Several members of the Cardinals visited the inside of the Green Monster earlier Tuesday. ... Boston LHP David Price (elbow) continues to throw off flat ground with no return date in sight. ... The Red Sox on Wednesday will honor the 50th anniversary of their 1967 Impossible Dream team that lost Game 7 of the World Series to the Cardinals. ... The Boston Globe reported domestic battery charges against Red Sox TV analyst Steve Lyons stemming from an argument with his girlfriend in January were dismissed in California. ... RHP Lance Lynn (10-6, 3.12 ERA) pitches for St. Louis against LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-3, 3.80) in Wednesday's series finale.

Encarnacion's 2 HRs power Indians past Red Sox

(TSX / STATS) -- BOSTON -- Edwin Encarnacion's first two-run homer Monday gave the Cleveland Indians the lead for good.

The designated hitter's second two-run shot of the night gave the Indians breathing room en route to a 7-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Rookie Rafael Devers hit two homers for the Red Sox, giving him five in 16 games since making his major league debut on July 25.

Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer (11-8) struck out 11 in 6 2/3 innings. He gave up three runs (all on solo homers), seven hits and two walks.

"They kind of chipped away the first time, but when Edwin hit that second one, (Bauer) really buckled down," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "When (Encarnacion is) going well, he has a different gear. Tonight's a good example of that."

In Bauer's past four starts, he is 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA, allowing six combined runs with 33 strikeouts and four walks.

"I was like, 'OK, here we go,'" Bauer said. "That's all they're going to get. Pitching 5-3 is a lot different than pitching 3-3."

Tyler Olson, Bryan Shaw and Joe Smith combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings to close out the win.

With the score tied in the fifth inning, Encarnacion turned on a fastball from Boston starter Doug Fister (2-6) and gave Cleveland a 5-3 lead.

With two outs in the sixth, Encarnacion launched a 96 mph fastball from Heath Hembree, Boston's third pitcher of the game, into the seats above the Green Monster for a 7-3 Cleveland advantage.

Jose Ramirez scored on both of Encarnacion's homers.

The Indians scored three runs in the second, highlighted by Francisco Lindor's two-run single, as they batted around while forcing Fister to throw 41 pitches in the inning. However, the damage could have been much greater. Cleveland left the bases loaded when Encarnacion popped out to end the inning.

The Red Sox tied the score with solo home runs in the second, third and fourth innings -- with the two from Devers and another by rookie Andrew Benintendi.

"You work so hard, and it's for a reason," Devers said through a team translator. "I was playing well in the minors this year, and it's nice to see the results come."

Fister allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out five.

"The difference in this one tonight compared to the last two starts were the number of walks that he included with some base hits," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "A guy that's going to pitch to contact, there's going to be some hits inside of a given game.

"But I felt like with the additional baserunners and the walks, that was the difference in this one. Then in the middle innings, two swings by Encarnacion ends up being the big difference with the two two-run homers. So that's the difference in this one. He just wasn't as sharp with his command."

The game was the makeup for an Aug. 2 rainout, the finale of what would have been a three-game series. The Red Sox won the first two games of the series.

NOTES: Indians LHP Andrew Miller (right patellar tendinitis) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance on Wednesday with Triple-A Columbus. If he comes through that outing without a problem, he could rejoin the Indians on Friday when they open a three-game series in Kansas City. ... Indians 2B Jason Kipnis was back in the starting lineup for the first time since Thursday after he tweaked his right hamstring. He was activated from the disabled on Aug. 5 after missing 22 games due to the same ailment. ... Cleveland S Francisco Lindor has reached base safely in 27 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the majors. ... Red Sox LHP David Price (left elbow inflammation) still has no timetable for a return. Manager John Farrell said Price must complete a progression of throwing from a mound and facing live batters before he can go out on a rehab stint. ... Boston LF Andrew Benintendi extended his hitting streak to eight games

Devers, Benintendi lead Red Sox past Yankees

(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- Chris Sale and Aroldis Chapman brought the heat with their left arms.

So did rookie Rafael Devers -- with his bat in the ninth inning, and he impressively introduced himself to the rivalry between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

Sale struck out 12 in seven dominating innings, and Devers hit a game-tying homer off Chapman's 103 mph fastball as the Red Sox edged the Yankees 3-2 on Andrew Benintendi's bases-loaded single in the 10th.

While Sale's 16th double-digit strikeout game and Benintendi's hit off Tommy Kahnle helped the Red Sox win for the 10th time in 11 games and take a season-high 5 1/2-game lead on the Yankees, it was Devers' swing that left everyone abuzz, especially considering who it occurred against and how rare a feat it was.

"An incredible swing," Boston manager John Farrell said.

Devers hit the 1-2 pitch over the 399-foot sign into the Boston bullpen beyond the left-field wall. It was the left-handed-hitting third baseman's fourth homer in 15 career games.

"First time," said Devers through an interpreter when asked if he ever saw a 103 mph pitch. "I've seen 100, but never 103."

Said Sale, who was in the training room watching the game on television on a delay: "You can't help but smile."

It also was the first homer hit by a left-handed hitter off Chapman since Luke Scott had one June 26, 2011, for the Baltimore Orioles against the Cincinnati Reds. For Chapman, it was the second time a left-handed hitter homered off him in his career, which has seen him faced 444 left-handed hitters in 379 at-bats in the regular season and postseason.

"To me, it was a good pitch, a good fastball," Chapman said through an interpreter. "He made contact."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Devers, "We know the young man has power, and if you put the barrel of the bat to a 100 mile per hour fastball, it's probably going to go somewhere."

Chapman (4-2) blew a save for the fourth time in 10 attempts, and it was the fourth time in six appearances against the Red Sox he was scored upon. He was charged with the winning run as Benintendi singled after Chapman hit Jackie Bradley Jr. and walked Eduardo Nunez.

Before Devers homered, the Yankees took a 2-1 lead in the eighth on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Todd Frazier off Matt Barnes. In the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees missed a chance to win it when Brett Gardner struck out with Chase Headley on third against Craig Kimbrel (4-0).

Before Boston's rookies helped the Red Sox beat the Yankees for the first time in a game Sale pitched, their ace allowed one run on four hits and two walks during his 51st career double-digit strikeout game.

He hit 99 mph on the final pitch of his 114-pitch outing, but the Red Sox did little offensively, costing Sale a chance at becoming the American League's first 15-game winner.

Sale upped his major-league-leading strikeout total to 241. He also became the first pitcher to record three straight double-digit strikeout games against the Yankees since Pedro Martinez in 2001, according to STATS.

"Tonight, he was hitting his spots," Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge said. "He was making pitches when he had to. He just didn't make a mistake."

Before Sale's night ended and the Yankees went ahead in the eighth, both teams scored in the fifth.

Bradley Jr. hit an RBI single off New York starter Jordan Montgomery, and Austin Romine hit a run-scoring triple off Sale.

Montgomery made the start in place of the injured CC Sabathia (knee), even though he was hit in the head during batting practice Saturday. He allowed one run and two hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The Red Sox (67-50) made several hard outs in the opening four innings against Montgomery, including a diving catch by center fielder Aaron Hicks on Eduardo Nunez's liner to start the game.

Boston broke through with two outs in the fifth inning. Brock Holt walked, took second on a wild pitch and scored standing up on Bradley's single to left field just under shortstop Didi Gregorius' glove.

The Yankees (61-55) tied the score in the bottom of the inning. Headley hit a one-out single. With two outs, Romine lifted an 0-2 slider to deep right field. The ball caromed off Mookie Betts' glove, and Romine reached third with his first career triple.

NOTES: Boston LHP David Price (left elbow inflammation) threw for the third straight day. He will get a scheduled day off Monday before resuming Tuesday. ... 1B Greg Bird (bruised right ankle) will start a rehab assignment Wednesday, and 2B Starlin Castro (strained right hamstring) will start a rehab assignment Friday, though the Yankees did not say which minor league affiliates they would play for. ... Red Sox RHP Carson Smith (recovery from Tommy John surgery) made his third rehab appearance for Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday, and Boston manager John Farrell said Smith's velocity was increased and the command was good. Smith will make his next appearance Tuesday.

Benintendi homers twice as Red Sox drub Yankees

(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- Many among the packed stands at Yankee Stadium might have cringed at the sight of Andrew Benintendi sending two pitches from Luis Severino soaring into the seats.

An exception might have been Benintendi's family, especially his 85-year-old grandfather, a Brooklyn native who grew up rooting for the New York Yankees.

Benintendi continued his torrid month by hitting two three-run homers as the Boston Red Sox posted a 10-5 victory over the Yankees on Saturday.

"Today, two beautiful swings for the six RBIs," Boston manager John Farrell said.

In front of the ninth sellout crowd of the season in New York, Benintendi put on an impressive power display and tied a career high by driving in six runs for the second time. He also had his third career multi-homer game, helping the Red Sox rebound from blowing a three-run lead Friday and win for the ninth time in 10 games.

The home runs continued the tear for the left fielder. Since sitting out two games on Aug. 1-2 while mired in a 4-for-23 slump, Benintendi is batting .484 (15-for-31) with four homers and 11 RBIs after hitting .222 during July.

"More than anything, pitches that he's gotten on the plate, he hasn't missed," Farrell said. "I can't say anything's fundamentally changed. He's got a beautiful swing. He's a natural lefty hitter. Prior to the date we were talking about, he was just missing some pitches that he otherwise squared up."

By not missing those pitches against Severino, Benintendi achieved three notable things in the rivalry, according to STATS.

He became the youngest (23 years old, 36 days) Boston player with at least six RBIs against the Yankees and the eighth Red Sox hitter with at least six RBIs against New York.

Benintendi also became the first rookie in baseball history to hit two three-run homers against the Yankees. He also joined Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx as the second Boston player to belt two three-run homers against the Yankees. Foxx achieved it twice -- on Sept. 7, 1938, at Fenway Park off Red Ruffing in a rain-shortened game and on Oct. 1, 1938, when he hit a grand slam and three-run homer at Fenway.

"I didn't know that," Benintendi said. "I guess that's cool."

Benintendi also continued to get good results against Severino (9-5). After hitting the two homers, he is 6-for-11 off the hard-throwing right-hander.

"He throws hard, he's got hard off-speed," Benintendi said. "You know whatever's coming is going to be hard. It's not easy to make an adjustment, but velocity kind of helps."

Besides Benintendi's historic showing, Mookie Betts added a two-run single in the third and rookie Rafael Devers contributed a two-run double in the fifth.

Benintendi's big day also helped Drew Pomeranz (12-4) win a career-high sixth straight decision as he allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.

The left-hander escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth by allowing only one run and rebounded from allowing Gary Sanchez's two-run homer

He also struck out struggling slugger Aaron Judge twice and got the right fielder to hit into a double play in the fifth.

The Yankees dropped 4 1/2 games behind first-place Boston in the American League East and lost for the seventh time in 11 games.

Severino saw his four-game winning streak come to an emphatic halt by producing the worst outing of his career. He allowed career highs of 10 runs (eight earned) and eight hits during 4 1/3 innings.

"He wasn't executing his pitches today," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He made some mistakes. The location I think of some fastballs and some sliders today. He's been so good and executing so well, and we haven't seen that for a while. But it just shows that he's human."

Chase Headley and Jacoby Ellsbury added solo shots in the ninth well after Benintendi put the game out of reach.

The Yankees opened a 2-0 lead on Sanchez's homer down the right field line with two outs in the first, but the Red Sox put together an 18-minute third inning and sent nine to the plate.

With runners on first and second, third baseman Todd Frazier misplayed Eduardo Nunez's ground ball, making the error while transferring the ball from his glove to his hand. Two pitches later, Betts lined a single to left to tie the score.

Benintendi then lined a 1-1 fastball into the center-field seats for a 5-2 lead. After the Yankees scored on Ellsbury's bases-loaded grounder in the fourth, the Red Sox sent nine to the plate in a 24-minute fifth.

Benintendi made it 8-3 when he lifted a 1-0 fastball into the right-center bleachers and Devers doubled to center field against Giovanny Gallegos to bring in two more runs.

NOTES: The Red Sox placed 2B Dustin Pedroia (left knee inflammation) on the 10-day DL and the Yankees put RHP Masahiro Tanaka (right shoulder inflammation) on the DL. Boston manager John Farrell said it's too early to determine if Pedroia will be out for the season. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he doesn't expect Tanaka to miss much more than the 10 days. ... The Red Sox recalled LHP Robby Scott from Triple-A Pawtucket and the Yankees recalled RHP Giovanny Gallegos from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. ... Boston LHP David Price (left elbow inflammation) completed a long-toss session for the second straight day by making throws from 120 feet without any pain. ... LHP Jordan Montgomery, who is scheduled to oppose Boston LHP Chris Sale on Sunday, was struck by a ball on the right side of his head when he was signing autographs during batting practice.