BOSTON — Drew Stubbs and Mark Reynolds drove in three runs each and the Indians had 16 hits in a 12-3 win over the Red Sox last night in manager Terry Francona’s return to Fenway Park.
Francona, let go by Boston after the 2011 season, got a standing ovation after the first inning during a video tribute on the center-field scoreboard. But he didn’t have to leave the visiting dugout during the game because all of Cleveland’s pitching changes came at the start of innings.
In eight years, Francona led the Red Sox to two World Series championships. In his first year as Cleveland’s manager, he has the Indians in first place in the AL Central after they went 68-94 last season.