Despite entering this season-concluding three-game set against the Cleveland Indians eliminated from playoff contention, the Boston Red Sox had one goal in mind - to salvage an underachieving season with a .500 record. 

Unfortunately, that objective will not be met, as the Boston bats garnered just five hits on the night, all coming against Cleveland's dominant starting pitcher, Josh Tomlin (W, 7-2), who pitched 6.1 innings while allowing five hits, two runs, and two walks while striking out five. 

Tomlin, making his 10th start since battling back from a March shoulder operation after undergoing Tommy John surgery as well in 2013, allowed just one extra-base hit on the night while recording four separate innings in which he faced just three Red Sox hitters. 

On the other side of the docket, Boston starter Henry Owens (L, 4-4) yielded seven runs on 10 hits while walking four in 4.1 innings of tumultuous work on the mound. Owens struggled to locate his arsenal of pitches, battered by the Indians for four runs in the third inning and three in the fifth inning. 

Cleveland first baseman Carlos Santana pioneered the attack with a 2-for-3, two-run, three-RBI outing, while right fielder Jerry Sands went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI and third baseman Chris Johnson went 2-for-4 with both a run and an RBI. 

The Indians began their onslaught in the third inning against Owens, as left fielder Matt Aviles reached on an infield single and shortstop Jose Ramirez walked to kick off the stanza. Designated hitter Ryan Raburn then planted a single to shallow left to load the bases with one out, and Santana proceeded to knock a three-RBI double to deep center, scoring Aviles, Ramirez, and Raburn. 

After a flyout by catcher Yan Gomes, Johnson recorded an RBI single, scoring Santana to push the Cleveland lead to 4-0. 

Following a two-run home run by Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz in the top of the fourth, his 37th of the season, the Indians struck again in the bottom of the fifth inning. 

With one out, Santana began the surge with a walk, and promptly came around to score on an RBI double by Gomes. After a single by Johnson pushed Gomes to third, he then scored on an RBI double by Sands. Center fielder Abraham Almonte concluded the damage, knocking an RBI infield single to end Owens' night with Cleveland ahead, 7-2. 

The Indians finalized their convincing performance in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Sands blasted a 390-foot home run to right field off of Red Sox reliever Jonathan Aro to increase the Cleveland advantage to 8-2. 

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About the author
Liam OBrien
Just a Boston man who loves sports. Oh, and writing is kind of a priority.