BOSTON (AP) — Doug Fister took a shutout into the eighth inning, rookie Rafael Devers went 4 for 4 and drove in a run and the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 6-2 on Monday night.
Mookie Betts stopped his mini-slump by driving in three runs with two singles, and Eduardo Nunez added three hits and two RBIs for the Red Sox, who won for the third time in nine games.
Bradley Zimmer hit a two-run homer for AL Central-leading Cleveland, which lost its second straight after a season-high nine-game winning streak.
Fister (1-5), claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on June 23, was pulled after giving up Zimmer’s homer with two outs in the eighth. He allowed two runs and five hits, walking two and striking out five.
Brandon Workman got the final four outs.
Mike Clevinger (5-4) gave up five runs on seven hits in three innings.
Looking to again ride their bullpen deep into the postseason, the Indians added another arm by acquiring reliever Joe Smith from Toronto for two minor leaguers Monday.
A 33-year-old right-hander, Smith is 3-0 with a 3.28 ERA in 38 appearances this season. He returns to Cleveland after pitching for the Indians from 2009-13.
“A lot of fans of Smitty in this organization, so getting him back will be a lot of fun,” manager Terry Francona said before the AL Central leaders faced Boston.
Cleveland closed the deal on the deadline for making trades without waivers. Toronto received left-hander Thomas Pannone and infielder Samad Taylor.
The Indians won the AL pennant last season behind Andrew Miller and their bullpen. Cleveland would like to have as many strong relief options as possible for the stretch run this year.
The arrival of Smith should lessen the workload for Miller and Bryan Shaw, pitching in front of closer Cody Allen.
With injured regulars Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall both on rehab assignments, Francona liked this latest move.
“We’re in a little bit of a unique spot where we have a couple of guys coming back, so it put us in a little awkward position,” he said. “Getting Smitty, who we all know, has pitched late-inning leverage situations.
“We know him, he knows us. Everybody is going to be happy we’re getting him back — and you can include myself,” he said.
Smith has been one of the baseball’s most consistent relievers over the course of his 11-year career, never finishing a season with an ERA higher than 3.83.
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