CLEVELAND - Victor Martinez followed the ball's trajectory, and even when it cleared the wall, Cleveland's catcher couldn't believe his eyes.
"I was rounding the bases," Martinez said, "and I thought, "Oh, my God, I just hit a home run off Curt Schilling.' "
Martinez's two-run homer in the first inning off Schilling stood up when Jake Westbrook pitched six shutout innings and Cleveland's bullpen came through in a 2-1 win over the Red Sox on Monday night.
Westbrook (2-1) strengthened his case to earn a permanent spot in Cleveland's rotation by holding the Red Sox to six hits and outdueling Schilling (3-2).
Cleveland has a surplus of starters, and with Jason Stanford set to return from the disabled list, manager Eric Wedge has some decisions to make.
Westbrook apparently made one for him, giving up just two runs and eight hits in his last 22 innings. Using his sinker to perfection, the right-hander got 13 outs on ground balls as the Red Sox lost their fourth straight.
"Jake obviously deserves to be in the rotation," Wedge said.
Westbrook plans to stay there.
"I want to start, but I'll pitch wherever they need me," said Westbrook, who has bounced between the rotation and bullpen his entire career. "It felt good to go out there and put up six zeros."
Other than giving up Martinez's homer, Schilling pitched well enough to win. He allowed two runs and seven hits, walked one and struck out six. He passed Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Warren Spahn for 20th on the career strikeout list with 2,587.
"Jake pitched a great game, but we've got to win games like this," Schilling said. "It was one of those where if you score two, I've got to give up one. You score three, I've got to give up two."
The Red Sox stranded 13 runners and have lost four straight for the first time since July 30-Aug. 2 last season.
"Any time this team loses four in a row," Johnny Damon said, "there is something terribly wrong."
For the Indians, that had been the case with their bullpen. But for one of the few times this season, Cleveland's relievers avoided a late-inning collapse.
David Riske, the club's deposed closer, walked two in the seventh inning before Rick White came on. David Ortiz followed with a run-scoring double to deep center.
But after walking Manny Ramirez to load the bases, White struck out Brian Daubach and Jason Varitek.
ROYALS 3, BLUE JAYS 2 (10): Aaron Guiel homered in the 10th, and Kansas City beat host Toronto after nearly wasting a stellar outing by Jimmy Gobble. The left-hander retired his first 16 batters and came within one out of a shutout for the Royals, who snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 2-10 on the road. Gobble gave up a two-out double to Carlos Delgado in the ninth and a run-scoring single to Josh Phelps, cutting it to 2-1. Mike MacDougal then gave up a single to Eric Hinske and walked pinch-hitter Frank Catalanotto, loading the bases. MacDougal then walked Orlando Hudson, tying it at 2.
ANGELS 11, TIGERS 9: Vladimir Guerrero made up for a key error with a tying single, Troy Glaus hit a go-ahead, two-run homer and host Anaheim rallied. Detroit reliever Al Levine blew the 6-2 lead he inherited from starter Mike Maroth, who left with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth. By the time Levine departed, the Angels led 8-6.
WHITE SOX 5, ORIOLES 4: Scott Schoeneweis pitched seven innings of two-hit ball for visiting Chicago. Joe Crede homered for the White Sox, who have won five of six. Crede's shot tied it at 1 in the sixth, and Chicago went up 4-1 an inning later against Mike DeJean (0-3).
