By Mike Brandyberry

Old friends sometimes become enemies and tonight was a great example when Brent Lillibridge and the Indians defeated the Red Sox, 5-2. Lillibridge was 3-for-4, with two runs batted in and a home run. He was a former Red Sox only a couple weeks ago.

The win gives the Indians their third win in four games since the end of their 11-game losing streak. Zach McAllister pitched eight innings, allowing only three hits and two runs while striking out four on 100 pitches.

The Indians jumped on top when Lillibridge hit a home run to lead off the bottom of the third inning and give the Tribe a 1-0 lead.  The Red Sox answered right back in the top of fourth inning when Jacoby Ellsbury doubled to deep left centerfield to start the inning. Carl Crawford sacrificed into a fielder’s choice moving Ellsbury to third and Dustin Pedroia sacrificed Crawford to second. Adrian Gonzalez gave the Red Sox their only runs of the game when he doubled to left field to score both runs and spot Boston a 2-1 lead.

Cleveland tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when Michael Brantley singled to start the inning. Red Sox pitcher Fernando Morales balked him to second base and he advanced to third when Shelley Duncan grounded out. Lillibridge singled to left centerfield to score Brantley and tie the game at two.

The Tribe took the lead for good in the bottom of sixth inning when AsdurbAl Cabrera walked, Shin-Soo Choo was hit by a pitch and Carlos Santana was intentionally walked to load the bases. After Morales was relieved by Andrew Miller, Brantley hit a sacrifice fly to score Cabrera and give the Feisty Featherheads a 3-2 lead.

The Wahoos would add runs in the seventh and eighth innings when Lillibridge doubled and advanced to third base before being squeezed home by Lou Marson. Santana doubled to wall in the eighth inning and later was singled home by Ezequiel Carrera to give the Indians their final 5-2 lead.

McAllister pitched eight innings for his fifth win before giving way to Chris Perez who worked a scoreless ninth inning for his 31^st save of the season.  Sunday the Indians will look to take three of four games from Boston when Corey Kluber (0-0, 6.10 ERA) takes on lefty Jon Lester (5-10, 5.36 ERA) at 1:05 pm from Progressive Field.

Photo: John Grieshop/Getty Images