Red Sox blank Indians

10/2/2009

BOSTON - Jon Lester showed no ill effects from his injury last week, pitching into the seventh inning and leading the Boston Red Sox to a 3-0 win over the Cleveland Indians last night.

Lester (15-8) gave up just two hits, walked one and struck out seven in 61/3 innings. He left after walking Jhonny Peralta with one out in the seventh.

The left-hander was knocked out of last Friday's loss to the Yankees by a liner off the bat of Melky Cabrera.

Michael Brantley led off the fourth with a single. In the fifth, Lou Marson hit a ground-rule double.

Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect ninth for his 38th save.

Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco (0-4) left the game in fourth after getting hit on back of leg by Jacoby Ellsbury's line drive. The club said he has a bruised left quadricep.

Carrasco gave up three runs on nine hits in 31/3 innings.