BOSTON — Rick Porcello snapped a career-worst seven-game losing streak with a little help from his offense, and the Boston Red Sox stretched their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 6-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night in the series finale at Fenway Park.
Porcello (5-9) was 0-7 with an 8.18 ERA in his previous eight starts, but he turned in his best outing in more than a month Wednesday. The right-hander lasted six innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out four as Boston (41-45) swept the two-game series.
David Ortiz had two hits, including a two-run homer in the Red Sox’s four-run third inning and a ground-rule double to the center field triangle in the sixth. The first baseman also scored Boston’s fifth run in the sixth when third baseman Pablo Sandoval grounded into a double play.
Koji Uehara picked up his 21st save by throwing a scoreless ninth inning.
Three errors proved costly for Miami (35-50).
Marlins starter Tom Koehler (7-5) surrendered five runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits and two walks in six innings. The right-hander threw a wild pitch and recorded just two strikeouts.
Designated hitter Michael Morse hit a solo home run in the eighth to cut the Marlins’ deficit to three.
Miami left fielder Christian Yelich went 0-for-3, ending his nine-game hitting streak. Right fielder Ichiro Suzuki snapped a 29-at-bat hitless streak with a fourth-inning single.
The Red Sox jumped on top in the third. The rally was highlighted by a rare showing of opposite-field power from the aging Ortiz, normally the team’s designated hitter. Ortiz stroked a 1-1 pitch into the Green Monster seats in left for a two-run homer, his 15th of the season.
Second baseman Brock Holt’s groundout drove in the first run of the inning after a Koehler throwing error put runners in scoring position. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts later beat out an infield single to plate Betts.
Miami got to Porcello in the fourth after the scuffling right-hander breezed through the first three innings. Back-to-back singles set the table for catcher J.T. Realmuto, who singled to drive in the Marlins’ first run. Center fielder Cole Gillespie’s RBI single in the next at-bat made it 4-2.
Porcello was able to avoid major damage, forcing a groundout to escape a bases-loaded jam.
Miami third baseman Derek Dietrich finished with three hits, and designated hitter Michael Morse added two hits.
NOTES: Boston became the last team in the majors to record a four-game winning streak this season. … Miami lost its seventh in a row against the Red Sox and is winless in its past nine interleague road games. … Marlins 1B Jeff Baker did not play Wednesday after leaving the game Tuesday with an oblique injury. Justin Bour started at first base and went 1-for-4. … Red Sox manager John Farrell would like to get struggling 1B Mike Napoli back in the lineup before the All-Star break, but he started David Ortiz at first again. “We’re not turning from Mike,” Farrell said. … Boston will take a day-by-day approach when 2B Dustin Pedroia (hamstring) is eligible to be reinstated from the disabled list Friday. … The Red Sox acquired RHP Ramses Rosario from the Washington Nationals for an international bonus pool slot in the 2015-16 signing period.
Indians 4, Astros 2
CLEVELAND — David Murphy’s two-run double in the eighth inning broke at 2-2 tie and lifted the Cleveland Indians to a 4-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night at Progressive Field.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, shortstop Francisco Lindor doubled off left-hander Joe Thatcher (1-3). Left fielder Michael Brantley drew a walk.
Designated hitter Murphy then ripped a line drive over the head of right fielder Preston Tucker. The ball bounced off the wall for a double, driving in both runners and giving Cleveland a 4-2 lead.
Right-hander Trevor Bauer (8-5) gave up two runs on six hits, with nine strikeouts and no walks to get the win. Right-hander Cody Allen pitched the ninth inning to pick up his 17th save.
Bauer gave up two runs in the first inning, but then held Houston scoreless on four hits over the next seven innings. The closest Houston came to scoring in that stretch was the third inning. Center fielder Jake Marisnick singled and went to third on a one-out single by Tucker.
With runners at first and third with one out, Bauer struck out the Astros Nos. 3 and 4 hitters, shortstop Carlos Correa and designated hitter Evan Gattis, to end the inning.
Houston took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when right-hander Trevor Bauer struck out the side but also gave up a two-run homer.
Second baseman Jose Altuve led off the game with a single to left field and went to second on a wild pitch. Bauer struck out the next two batters — right fielder Preston Tucker and shortstop Carlos Correa.
Designated hitter Evan Gattis then pounded an 0-1 pitch over the left field wall for his 15th home run of the season that gave the Astros a 2-0 lead.
The Indians countered with a run in the bottom of the first. Second baseman Jason Kipnis led off with a triple to left field off right-hander Dan Straily. Kipnis scored on a groundout by shortstop Francisco Lindor to cut the Houston lead to 2-1.
Cleveland tied it with a run in the fourth. Left fielder Michael Brantley led off with a single and went to third on a double by Murphy. Brantley scored the tying run on a groundout by first baseman Carlos Santana.