Coco Crisp comes up big in postseason return to Fenway

It seemed like the tide was turning. The Indians and starter Josh Tomlin emerged from a tense 5th inning clinging to a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the 6th, veteran Indians outfielder Coco Crisp made sure the momentum, for the moment, didn't swing any further. With Jose Ramirez on second, Crisp turned on a Drew Pomeranz offering and lifted it over the Green Monster in left, giving the Tribe a 4-1 lead and a little more breathing room.

His second career postseason home run wasn't his only contribution in the early going. With the game scoreless in the 4th, his sacrifice bunt moved Ramirez and Lonnie Chisenhall into scoring position and allowed them to score on Tyler Naquin's subsequent single, spotting the Tribe an early 2-0 lead.

Crisp is plenty familiar with the postseason confines of Fenway Park, having played postseason ball for Boston in 2008. He was also a member of the 2007 World Series Champion Red Sox, a team that rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Indians in that year's American League Championship Series.

Crisp, at least in the middle innings Monday, was doing his best to ensure no such comeback happens this year.