By Sean McAdam
CSNNE.com
CLEVELAND -- The misery continued for the Red Sox Wednesday, shutout by the Cleveland Indians, 1-0, for their sixth straight loss in as many games to open the season, matching their worst start since 1945.
The two teams were locked in a scoreless pitcher's duel until the Indians broke through in the eighth. Daniel Bard walked No. 9 hitter Adam Everett, who stole second and took third on a sacrifice bunt.
Asdrubal Cabrera then perfectly executed a suicide squeeze bunt, scoring Everett from third.
The Sox wasted a terrific outing from starter Jon Lester, who limited the Indians to three hits while walking three and striking out nine. Lester's outing was the first quality start of the year.
The final out of the game when pinch-runner Darnell McDonald make too wide a turn at second and was cut down by Everett.
Star of the Game: Asdrubal Cabrera.
On Wednesay, Cabrera blasted a back-breaking three-run homer against the Red Sox to put the game away. Thursday afternoon, he was much more subtle, executing a suicide squeeze in the bottom of the eighth to account for the only run of the game.
Cabrera had struck out in each of his three previous at-bats against Jon Lester, but got the bunt down when he had to against Daniel Bard.
Honorable Mention: Jon Lester.
Lester pitched like a true No. 1 when he needed to -- seven shutout innings, three hits allowed, nine strikeouts --- though it didn't result in a win.
This was a different Lester than the Sox saw on Opening Day when he gave up three homers and didn't record a single strikeout. His velocity was better today as he did everything he could get the Sox into the win column.
One good thing from Thursday's start: it appears as though Lester has solved his early-season woes. In 2009, he didn't pitch well until mid-May; In 2010, he turned it around after four bad starts. This year? It took just one.
Goat of the Game: Daniel Bard.
Bard has now pitched in three games this season and has lost two of them. The first was Opening Day when he allowed a two-run pinch-double to David Murphy, which kicked up chalk on the foul line. Thursday, he came into a scoreless game and promptly walked the leadoff hitter -- No. 9 in the Cleveland order -- to begin the unraveling.
Turning Point: In a 1-0 loss, there are no shortage of key plays, including the Red Sox failure to break through with two runners in scoring position and two out in the eighth.
But the leadoff walk to Adam Everett in the bottom of the eighth has to be the choice here. Everett then stole second, took third on a sacrifice and scored the only run of the afternoon when Cabrera got down a perfect suicide squeeze.
By the Numbers: 1-for-14 - combined totals from Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon for the Red Sox with runners in scoring position.
Quote of Note: "We're frustrated as hell right now. We never thought we'd be here (0-6), but we are, so we've got to deal with it.'' -- Kevin Youkilis.
Sean McAdam can be reached at smcadam@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Sean on Twitter at http:twitter.comsean_mcadam.