Jones’ three-run homer lifts Guardians

BOSTON » Guardians rookie Nolan Jones politely asked reporters to wait so he could text his father a picture of the souvenir baseball he is bringing home from Fenway Park.

Not the one from his home run — a three-run shot that was just the second homer of Jones’ major league career. The one that David Ortiz autographed for him on the night the Red Sox slugger returned from Cooperstown as a newly minted Hall of Famer.

“David Ortiz is my hero, actually,” Jones said, stopping to show off the ball to his teammate Owen Miller after Cleveland beat Boston 8-3 on July 26.

“Did you get two?” Miller asked.

Minutes after Ortiz took the field in a pregame ceremony and proclaimed himself a good luck charm for his slumping former team, the Red Sox fell behind 5-0 on their way to a sixth loss in seven games. They have lost 14 of their last 18 to fall into last place in the AL East.

Austin Hedges also homered,

and Steven Kwan had three hits to help Guardians snap a three-game losing streak.

Bryan Shaw made his first start after a record 732 relief appearances, and Kirk McCarty (1-2) earned his first career victory, pitching four scoreless innings and striking out four.

“He went right through the middle of that game and quieted it down,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said. “I think he had some adrenaline because it was coming out hot.”

Xander Bogaerts had three hits for Boston. Josh Winckowski (3-5) allowed five runs on six hits and a walk, striking out two in three innings.

The Guardians scored solo runs in the first two innings before Jones hit a three-run homer to make it 5-0 in the third. Boston scored two in the bottom half to chase Shaw, and had the bases loaded with one out.

But Nick Sandlin got

Kevin Plawecki on a shallow popup, and Jones, in right field, threw out Bogaerts trying to tag from third to end the inning. The Guardians lead the majors with 27 outfield assists.

Starting anew

Shaw made the first start of his 12-year career and was already campaigning for another.

“I’m trying to start again Sunday,” he said.

Told that would probably put him up against the Rays and former Cleveland Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, he said: “That would be awesome.”

Shaw’s last professional start was in 2010 in DoubleA. On Tuesday, he allowed two runs on three hits a hit batter and a walk while striking out two. He left with the Guardians leading 5-1 and runners on first and second with one out in the third.

The previous major league record for appearances before a debut start was David Robertson, who pitched 680 games in relief from 2008-21 before starting for the Rays against Miami.

“I’ll take any records I can get,” Shaw said.

CHARLES KRUPA — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Nolan Jones is congratulated by manager Terry Francona, right, after his three-run home run off Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Winckowski during the third inning July 26.