The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Araúz 3-run homer lifts Boston past Indians
CLEVELAND >> Jonathan Araúz hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning after being recalled before the game due to Boston’s COVID-19 case, sending the Red Sox to a 4-3 win on Friday night over the Cleveland Indians.
Araúz drove a 3-2 pitch from James Karinchak (74) over the wall in right to rally the Red Sox, who began the series by placing infielders Kiké Hernández and Christian Arroyo on the COVID-19 injured list.
The Red Sox were down 3-1 and had managed only one hit through seven innings off starter Logan Allen and reliever Alex Young before storming back in the eighth against Karinchak.
The right-hander walked Christian Vázquez and gave up a single to Jarren Duran before Araúz, who made the three-hour drive from Buffalo with Yairo Muñoz and arrived at Progressive Field not long before the first pitch, connected for his second career homer.
José Ramírez hit a two-run homer off Eduardo Rodriguez (10-7) and Yu Chang added a solo shot — his third in three games — for Cleveland.
The Indians got the tying run to second in the ninth before Adam Ottavino got three outs for his ninth save.
Rodriguez was headed for a tough loss before Boston’s rally. He allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings.
The Red Sox were dealt a setback before the game when they lost Hernández and Arroyo for at least a week. Manager Alex Cora said Hernández was experiencing COVID-19 symptoms while Arroyo was ruled out due to close contact with his teammate.
The loss of two regulars in the heat of a playoff chase left the Red Sox scrambling at the start of a seven-game trip.
Araúz stopped things from getting any worse.
Ramírez connected for his 30th homer in the fourth to put the Indians up 2-0.
Ramírez joined Al Rosen (1950, 1953) as the only Cleveland third basemen to have multiple seasons of at least 30 homers. Ramírez hit a career-high 39 in 2018, when he also had 34 stolen bases.