Red Sox blank Indians, 7-0

Pitching of David Price and another offensive explosion lead to win in series finale.

BOSTON -- Never let it be said the Red Sox did all of this winning against only the dregs of Major League Baseball.

Cleveland figured to pose a stiff challenge in a four-game series at Fenway Park this week, a fellow American League division leader visiting Boston for the only time this regular season. The Indians had their way the first two evenings, but the Red Sox responded in a way that can only be beneficial come October.

David Price’s brilliance and a second offensive explosion in as many days added up to a 7-0 shutout on a perfect summer afternoon.

Price bought the needed time for the Boston bats to rouse from their slumber, thumping away in similar fashion to the 10-4 victory the previous night. Two-run doubles by Blake Swihart, Xander Bogaerts and Eduardo Nunez fueled a six-run fifth inning, as the Red Sox buried Cleveland starter Adam Plutko and a pair of relievers in quick fashion.

Sandy Leon’s seven-pitch at-bat ended in a ground rule double down the line in right, with the catcher’s two plate appearances draining 17 of Plutko’s 101 pitches over just 4.1 innings. A sharp single to center by Jackie Bradley Jr. and a one-out walk by Andrew Benintendi set the table for Swihart, who sent a liner up the gap in right center to make it 2-0.

J.D. Martinez drew an intentional walk and submariner Adam Cimber was summoned to stem the tide. Bogaerts sent a high chopper toward third that went off the glove of Jose Ramirez and into the corner in left, pushing the lead to 4-0. Another intentional walk issued to Brock Holt gave Cimber a right-right matchup with Nunez, but the utility infielder slapped a one-hopper inside the bag at first and into the corner in right to make it a 6-0 cushion.

Price’s late-summer renaissance continued under the spectacular afternoon sunshine. His sixth straight start of allowing two earned runs or less covered eight impressive innings, as Price allowed just three singles and struck out seven against no walks. The left-hander lowered his earned-run average in that span to a paltry 1.09, and the Red Sox are 16-2 in his last 18 starts.

Greg Allen was the lone man to reach against Price over the first six frames, blooping a two-out single to shallow right in the third. Two more singles in the seventh gave Cleveland a pair of base runners with one out, but Melky Cabrera lined to Bogaerts at short to start an unassisted double play. Brandon Guyer was hit by a pitch to lead off the eighth and cut down on a 3-6 double play, with Swihart showing off his catcher’s arm by tagging the bag at first on a Jason Kipnis grounder and firing to second to retire Guyer.