CLEVELAND (Interstat) — The Boston Red Sox erupted for six runs in the seventh inning Sunday to break open a tight game and defeat the Cleveland Guardians 9-4 at Progressive Field, winning for the second time in three games in the weekend series.

Boston’s victory, before a crowd of 28,798, improved its record to 25-33. Cleveland fell to 34-27. The game took 2 hours 51 minutes.

The Red Sox struck first when center fielder Jarren Duran led off the game with his 10th home run of the season, a solo shot to right field off Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee. Duran’s blast gave Boston a 1-0 lead, but the Guardians responded in the second inning.

Cleveland loaded the bases against Boston starter Ranger Suarez on a walk to Rhys Hoskins, a double by David Fry and a hit-by-pitch to Kyle Manzardo. After Stuart Fairchild struck out, catcher Austin Hedges singled to right field, scoring Hoskins and Fry for a 2-1 lead. The inning ended on a double play.

Both starting pitchers settled in over the next few innings. Bibee worked six innings, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out five. Suarez lasted five innings, giving up eight hits and four runs with 10 strikeouts.

Boston tied the game in the fifth inning. Marcelo Mayer singled and Connor Wong doubled, putting runners at second and third with no outs. After Carlos Narváez struck out, Duran walked to load the bases. Mickey Gasper hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Mayer. Wilyer Abreu then singled to left, plating Wong, but Abreu was thrown out trying to advance to second on the throw.

The Guardians regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Brayan Rocchio led off with a double. After Travis Bazzana struck out, José Ramírez doubled to left, scoring Rocchio. Chase DeLauter singled to left, bringing home Ramírez for a 4-3 advantage. Suarez then walked Fry and struck out Manzardo, but Fairchild struck out to end the inning after a successful challenge by the Guardians.

The score remained 4-3 until the seventh inning, which proved decisive.

Cleveland reliever Will Dion had entered in the sixth and retired the side in order. He began the seventh by getting Mayer to fly out, but then walked Wong. Narváez singled, and Duran walked to load the bases. With one out, Gasper struck out, but Abreu drew a walk to force in Wong, tying the game 4-4.

That brought up Masataka Yoshida, who lined a single to center field, scoring Narváez and Duran to give Boston a 6-4 lead. Isiah Kiner-Falefa followed with a single to center, scoring Abreu. Caleb Durbin then tripled to right field, driving in Yoshida and Kiner-Falefa to cap the six-run outburst. The inning ended with Boston leading 9-4.

The Guardians never threatened again. Boston’s bullpen closed the door with four scoreless innings. Greg Weissert pitched a perfect seventh, striking out one. Aroldis Chapman worked the eighth, allowing one hit and striking out two. Jovani Morán, who earned the win, threw 1 1/3 hitless innings with one strikeout. Tyron Guerrero recorded the final two outs of the ninth, allowing one hit but no runs.

Cleveland’s bullpen also performed well outside the seventh. Dion tossed two innings, giving up two hits and no runs with three strikeouts. But the damage came against Colin Holderman, who took the loss after allowing five runs in the seventh.

Key contributors for Boston included Duran, who finished 1 for 3 with a home run, a walk and an RBI. Abreu went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two walks. Durbin drove in two runs with his triple.

For Cleveland, Bibee had a solid start despite the loss. The Guardians managed 11 hits, with Fry collecting two hits including a double. Ramírez doubled and drove in a run.

The series opened Friday with Cleveland winning 4-3, but Boston rebounded Saturday with a 9-1 victory. The Red Sox now head home to face the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday for a three-game series. Cleveland travels to New York for a three-game set against the Yankees.

Sunday’s result defied pregame expectations. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 7-3 Cleveland victory. The ELO system gave the Guardians a 54.90 percent probability to win. Boston had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The combined total of 13 runs went under the over-under line of 7.5.