BOSTON (AP) – Jake Westbrook became the first pitcher in 18 years to win despite allowing 15 hits, and the Cleveland Indians used Shin-Soo Choo’s grand slam to beat Josh Beckett and the Boston Red Sox 7-6 Thursday night.

Westbrook hung on while giving up the most hits in the majors this season, permitted six runs in eight innings.

John Dopson was the last pitcher to win while permitting 15 hits when he pitched Montreal past Atlanta 9-2 on July 3, 1988.

Choo, traded from Seattle to the Indians for Ben Broussard on July 26, hit his first career slam. Travis Hafner and Aaron Boone also homered for the Indians, who split the four-game series.

The Red Sox fell one game behind New York in the AL East.

Westbrook (8-7) ended his three-game losing streak and won for the first time since July 4.

Jason Davis recorded his first career save, retiring David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Doug Mirabelli in order. Cleveland led entering the ninth inning in each game of the series, but allowed Ortiz’s winning homer Monday and Mark Loretta’s ending double Wednesday.

Beckett (13-6) allowed seven runs and 11 hits in six innings. He fell to 0-2 this season against the Indians, who tagged him for nine runs in 3 2-3 innings on April 27.

Boston scored a run in the first inning and two more in the second to take an early 3-0 lead. Beckett breezed through five innings, allowing only Boone’s solo homer, but have up six runs on seven consecutive hits in the sixth.

Joe Inglett started the rally with a single and Hafner followed with his 31st home run. After three consecutive Cleveland singles, Choo drove a first-pitch fastball to center field to give the Indians a 7-3 lead.

Boston scored two more in the sixth and another in the eighth to pull within 7-6.

Kevin Youkilis had three hits and three RBIs for the Red Sox. Ramirez drove in Youkilis in the first inning to become the 45th player in major league history with 1,500 RBIs.

Notes: Boston C Jason Varitek had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and was expected to begin rehabilitation immediately, though there was no timetable given for when Boston’s captain could return. … Boston RHP Keith Foulke struck out two and walked one in a scoreless inning in a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket. Foulke was 2-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 29 relief appearances before going on the 15-day disabled list on June 13 with right elbow tendinitis. … Beckett has given up a major league-high 31 home runs. … Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 19 games. … Hafner is two home runs shy of tying his career high of 33.

AP-ES-08-03-06 2215EDT