Vazquez’s 3-run HR in 9th lifts Red Sox over Indians in thriller

BOSTON — With the game on the line, Christian Vazquez launched a long drive that even Austin Jackson couldn’t reach.

Vazquez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Boston Red Sox pulled off the final rally of a wild game Tuesday night, beating the Indians 1210 despite an astonishing catch by Jackson.

“Some odd things took place offensively,” Boston manager John Farrell said, marveling at the outcome and the many twists and turns that preceded it as the Red Sox moved back into first place in the AL East.

The teams combined for 28 hits and six home runs, but Jackson made a defensive play that stood above all the offense when he robbed Hanley Ramirez of a leadoff homer in the fifth with a leaping grab in the right-center triangle at Fenway Park.

The center fielder reached way above the wall and tumbled head over heels into the Red Sox bullpen, disappearing from view momentarily before popping up and showing the ball was in his glove — to the amazement of players on both sides.

A replay review confirmed Jackson held on for the catch, and the sensational play earned him a standing ovation from rival Red Sox fans.

“That was one of the best catches I think I’ve ever seen,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. “I’ve been in the game a long time. That’s a hard wall out there and a lot of guys run away from it. Austin went up and over.”

Vazquez also went up and over, ending the game with a shot to center that Jackson could only turn around and watch leave the park as Vazquez rounded the bases and the Red Sox celebrated an unlikely victory. Mitch Moreland had just struck out swinging for what should have been the final out, but the pitch from Cleveland closer Cody Allen (0-6) was wild and Moreland reached first safely to extend the inning.

Allen then fell behind 3-1 in the count and Vazquez pounced on the next pitch.

“I was going to try to throw my best fastball and hopefully get an out,” Allen said. “He hit that ball a long way.”

Vazquez wasn’t the only one. Cleveland tied it on Francisco Lindor’s leadoff homer in the top of the ninth and took a 10-9 lead on Craig Kimbrel’s basesloaded wild pitch with Jackson at the plate. But the Indians, who led 5-0 after two innings, blew the lead for the third and final time in the bottom of the ninth.

Moreland hit a three-run homer in the second and Eduardo Nunez had three hits and four RBIs for the Red Sox, including a basesloaded double in the sixth as Boston scored four times to take its first lead.

“I don’t know if you can separate the ninth from any other part of this game. We haven’t had a game like this for a long time,” Farrell said.

The comeback lifted Boston a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees, who lost 4-3 to Detroit.

Kimbrel (3-0) blew a save for the fourth time this season, but ended up with the win when Vazquez hit his second homer of the year.

Scherzer leaves with neck spasms, Marlins beat Nats

MIAMI — Max Scherzer slept funny, which is why he wasn’t smiling when he left Tuesday’s game in the second inning with neck spasms.

The NL All-Star starter hit his first career homer to help build a six-run lead, but the Miami Marlins rallied against the Washington Nationals’ bullpen to win 7-6 on Tuesday.

Scherzer said he woke up with a stiff neck a couple of days earlier, and it became more bothersome when the game began.

“It hurt when I turned to look left,” he said. “In the first inning I could tell I wasn’t right. It was hard for me to pick up the target. When I went out in the second inning, I could tell it had tightened up even more, and I knew it was time to pull the chute.”

Scherzer said the issue’s not serious, and added he didn’t aggravate it hitting his homer.

“You know it had to be something for him to come out of a game up six runs,” manager Dusty Baker said. “We’re just glad it wasn’t his arm.”

After Scherzer stunned his teammates with his home run, he threw a pitch to the backstop warming up for the second inning and walked off the mound pointing to his neck and shaking his head. Manager Dusty Baker came out of the dugout to meet Scherzer, who said, “I can’t go.”

Longoria becomes 2nd-ever Rays player to hit for cycle

HOUSTON — Evan Longoria became the second Tampa Bay player to hit for the cycle and drove in three runs to lead the Rays over the Houston Astros 6-4 on Tuesday night. He was a double shy when he came to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning and laced a laser to left field. Longoria dashed to second base and slid in to avoid the tag of Jose Altuve.

He was initially ruled out, but the call was overturned after a crew chief review. Most of the Rays stood up behind the railing of the dugout and cheered as the call was reversed, and Longoria flashed a big smile knowing that he joined Melvin (then known as B.J.) Upton as the only Rays to achieve the feat.

Logan Morrison hit a solo homer and finished with two RBIs as the Rays bounced back after losing Monday’s opener 14-7.

Lucas Duda singled with one out in the first before Longoria launched his towering homer, which banged on train tracks atop left field, off Mike Fiers (7-6) to make it 2-0. Morrison’s 27th homer came next to make it 3-0.