BOSTON — Connor Wong hit a two-run homer, Alex Verdugo singled home a pair of runs and added a late solo homer, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-1 on a cold and rainy Sunday at Fenway Park.

Chris Sale (2-2) struck out five, holding the Guardians to three hits over 6 1/3 innings. Boston took two of three from Cleveland and climbed one game above .500 at 15-14.

“Today was a good day, but it takes the whole squad to get there,” Sale said.

Christian Arroyo added a two-run double during a three-run seventh inning that sealed it for the Red Sox, who overcame a strong start by rookie Logan Allen (1-1) and piled on late runs against Cleveland relievers.

Amed Rosario drove in Cleveland’s only run with a single in the sixth inning – one of just four hits for the Guardians.

There was some question whether the game would happen, as clouds dipped low enough to conceal the Boston skyline and the game-time temperature was just 51 degrees. The light rain was enough to keep a few hard-hit balls inside Fenway Park, but not the towering blast by Wong against reliever Nick Sandlin that cleared the Green Monster and put Boston up 4-1 in the sixth.

Sale took a shutout into the sixth before Steven Kwan led off with a double and scored on Rosario’s single. Cleveland’s best chance at a big rally ended with two runners left on base.

“(Sale) buckled down and did a heck of a job,” Cleveland Manager Terry Francona said. “We had a runner at second and the guys we wanted up. Give him credit.”

Sale, who had Tommy John surgery in 2020 and lost large chunks of the last two seasons because of unrelated injuries, also got an out in the seventh inning for the first time since Aug. 8, 2019.

“There’s going to be good ones, there’s going to be tough ones,” Boston Manager Alex Cora said. “But as long as he’s healthy, we’re going to get him at one point and that was good to see.”

Allen was strong early, holding Boston to one hit through the first four innings and striking out the heart of the Red Sox order on 12 pitches in the fourth. But Boston got to him for a pair of runs in the fifth. After Wong led off with a single, Jarren Duran hit a ground-rule double and Verdugo drove in both with a single to left.

Allen limited the damage to two runs, getting Rafael Devers looking for his eighth strikeout. That matched his total from his big-league debut a week earlier in Cleveland’s 7-4 win over the Marlins.

NEW KID

Allen is the fourth player in Cleveland franchise history to strike out 16 or more in his first two games, joining Danny Salazar (2013), Luis Tiant (1964) and Herb Score (1955).

Francona said he was impressed with the poise Allen showed going up against Sale.

“There’s a lot to like about this kid,” Francona said. “I thought he did OK.”

UP & DOWN

Sale attributed his form Sunday to strong command of his fastball. His previous outing was a forgettable one, as he was tagged for five runs on nine hits in five innings while taking the loss against Baltimore. The start before that, he struck out 11 in a win over Minnesota.

Sale said he expects more consistency from himself.

“I don’t think it takes bad outings to really need to do good. This is the big leagues,” Sale said. “You’ve got to do good every time out. There’s no leniency, especially with who I’m supposed to be on this team.”

STILL GOING

Boston designated hitter Masataka Yoshida bounced a double high off the Green Monster with one out in the second, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: Reinstated right-hander Chris Martin (right shoulder inflammation) from the 15-day injured list, adding the veteran reliever to the bullpen. Martin has appeared in seven games for Boston, allowing two runs over seven innings. Right-hander Kaleb Ort was optioned to Triple-A Worcester. … James Paxton pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings in his fifth rehab appearance for Triple-A Worcester, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out eight.

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