Indians gouge Price
Lefty’s postseason woes continue as Red Sox trail 2-0
CLEVELAND — Corey Kluber carried a shutout into the eighth inning and Lonnie Chisenhall hit a three-run homer off postseason-cursed David Price, giving the Indians a 6-0 win over the Red Sox on Friday and a 2-0 lead in their American League Division Series.
Showing no signs of a late- season leg injury, Kluber limited the AL East champions to three hits over seven innings as the Indians moved within one win of returning to the AL Championship Series for the first time since 2007.
“We don’t have the big names, the big contracts or any of that stuff,” second baseman Jason Kipnis said. “But we have 25 guys who love to compete and have bought into this team. That’s what we’ve got.”
David Ortiz and the Red Sox are in serious trouble and have to hope they can get things turned around Sunday in Game 3 at Fenway Park. If not, their turnaround season and Big Papi’s career will be over.
“Backs against the wall,” manager John Farrell said. “It’s pretty clear what lies ahead of us.”
Chisenhall connected in the second inning off Price, who fell to 0-8 in nine playoff starts and must now face the wrath of Red Sox Nation. The left-hander lasted just 31⁄ innings and once again crumbled with a chance to silence critics who say he can’t pitch in the big game.
“I know my number is going to be called again to pitch another game in 2016,” Price said. “I want it. I’ll be ready.”
Price came in 10-2 in his Lonnie Chisenhall reacts after hitting a three-run home run Friday that helped the Indians defeat the Red Sox. career against the Indians, including a 5-0 mark at Progressive Field. But that didn’t mean anything to these Indians, who strung together four straight hits — three of them soft singles — to put him in a 4-0 hole after just two innings.
That’s all Kluber needed. Making his first postseason start, the Cy Young Award candidate had few issues with the Red Sox, who missed a chance to do some damage against him in the fourth. Kluber was pitching for the first time since straining his quadriceps on Sept. 26.
“We talked before the game about would he be a little bit rusty or would he be really good?” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “He answered that question.
“He was terrific. You go through that lineup and don’t give up runs, you’re pitching.”