Leadoff home run only hit off Fister

CLEVELAND — Three pitches into his start, Doug Fister had a one-hitter. Nearly three hours later, nothing had changed.

Fister gave up a leadoff home run to Francisco Lindor and then slammed the door, finishing with a career-best one-hitter, and Eduardo Nunez had five RBIs as the Red Sox crushed the Indians 9-1 on Tuesday night.

Fister (3-6) was facing the Indians for the third time in four starts, and the right-hander took advantage of his familiarity with the lineup. He allowed two walks and hit a batter but was otherFister, wise in control. Backed by two double plays, he pitched his first complete game since 2014 with the Nationals.

“When you think the third pitch goes out of the ballpark and from that point on he throws nine no-hit innings, it’s an impressive outing,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “This night was Doug Fister. On a night when we needed a starter to go deep, he gave it to us.”

Jackie Bradley Jr. homered off Carlos Carrasco (12-6), and Nunez connected for a two-run double and a three-run homer.

The AL East-leading Red Sox improved to 15-4 since July 31.

claimed on waivers from the Angels in late June, retired the final 14 batters in a row. With two out in the ninth, he retired Yandy Diaz on a deep fly to right that Mookie Betts caught at the wall.

“I was holding my breath,” Fister said. “It was kind of a sigh of relief when he caught it. I thought he was going to have to play it off the wall.”

Indians manager Terry Francona gave all the credit to Fister.

“He located his fastball with movement, changed speeds,” Francona said. “When he did make a mistake, we didn’t hit it. He went right through us.”