BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox are back atop the AL East standings following a wild victory over the Indians.
The game featured one of the most sensational defensive highlights of the season. Indians center fielder Austin Jackson drew a standing ovation — from the rival Red Sox fans at Fenway Park, no less — when he raced toward right-center, jumped high and jack-knifed into the Boston bullpen to rob Hanley Ramirez of a leadoff home run in the fifth inning last night.
Christian Vazquez belted a three-run, walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth to give the Red Sox a 12-10 victory against the AL Central leaders. Closer Chad Allen struck out Mitch Moreland with two out in the ninth, but the ball sailed past catcher Yan Gomes for a wild pitch that put runners on first and second. Allen threw another wild pitch before Vazquez homered for just the second time this season.
Moreland slammed a three-run homer and Eduardo Nunez went 3-for-4 with four RBIs for the Bosox.
Brandon Guyer, Edwin Encarnacion, Carlos Santana and Francisco Lindor homered for the Indians, who blew leads of 5-0, 7-5 and 10-9.
The outcome puts the Red Sox a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees and keeps the Indians two games in front of Kansas City.