Kyle Schwarber delivered a tiebreaking, two-run double in the seventh inning and had three RBIs as the Boston Red Sox prevailed 8-5 in a slugfest against the visiting Cleveland Indians to open a three-game series Friday night.

Schwarber (2-for-5) also clubbed a solo blast for his 150th career home run. Hunter Renfroe added a three-run homer in the seventh and Kevin Plawecki and Jonathan Arauz each had solo shots for Boston (78-59), which has won three straight and eight of 12 games overall.

Red Sox reliever Adam Ottavino (4-3) earned the win after striking out a pair to cap the visiting seventh. Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi gave up three runs on six hits with a pair of walks and nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

The Red Sox moved three games ahead of the Oakland A's for the second American League wild-card spot.

Austin Hedges hit a two-run homer and Jose Ramirez had a solo shot and two RBIs for Cleveland (67-65). Indians starter Cal Quantrill (4-3) allowed five runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- while walking two and striking out six over six-plus innings.

The loss snapped Cleveland's four-game winning streak that began with a 7-5 win over Boston to avoid a three-game sweep at home last Sunday.

Schwarber's 29th home run of the season put Boston ahead 1-0 in the first inning.

A rare Plawecki home run doubled the Red Sox's lead in the second. With two outs in the inning, 28-year-old Red Sox second baseman Jack Lopez doubled to right field to record his first major league hit.

Ramirez put the Indians on the board with his team-leading 32nd home run in the fourth. Boston got the run back in the bottom of the inning as Arauz cleared the bullpens in right field to make it 3-1.

Hedges tied the game at 3-3 with a two-run bomb for his eighth homer of the year off Eovaldi in the seventh.

--Field Level Media