Tribe bullpen falters in 6-1 loss to Red Sox

RED SOX 6, INDIANS 1

The offense gave Corey Kluber no support and then the bullpen faltered in the ninth inning as the Indians lost to Boston at Progressive Field.

Mitch Moreland hit a fifth-inning home run, Drew Pomeranz and three relievers bested Corey Kluber, and the Boston Red Sox defeated the Indians, 6-1, on Aug. 23 at Progressive Field.

Moreland homered to right on a 1-0 pitch from Kluber (12-4), who allowed two runs over 7 2/3 innings.

Mookie Betts’ RBI single with two outs in the eighth ended the night for Cleveland’s ace, who allowed four hits and struck out 12 — the 13th time this season he’s reached double figures in

strikeouts.

Four pitchers held Cleveland’s injury-depleted lineup to three hits, a night after Doug Fister pitched a one-hitter.

Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-out homer in the eighth off Addison Reed.

Pomeranz (13-4) gave up two hits and struck out nine in 5 1/3 innings in winning his seventh straight decision.

Kipnis out

Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis is out indefinitely after being placed on the disabled list again with a strained right hamstring.

Kipnis returned recently after missing a month, but was removed from Tuesday night’s game against Boston. He grounded out in the first inning and was replaced by a pinch hitter in the third.

Kipnis underwent an MRI, which showed he aggravated the injury.

“There’s really no timetable,” Indians manager Terry

Francona said. “It’s going to be on how he feels. Rather than try to milk it for three or four days we felt like, let’s get him healthy.”

Kipnis’ injury is just the latest. Also out are Andrew Miller and Danny Salzar.

TONY DEJAK — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Indians’ Brandon Guyer hits a single off Red Sox starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz in the fourth inning.