BOSTON -- John Lackey is rolling again after two rough seasons that made his rich contract seem like a waste of money. Now the Boston Red Sox are getting what they paid for. Lackey allowed two hits in seven innings, gave up no earned runs for his second straight start and led the Red Sox to an 8-1 win over the Cleveland Indians on a rainy Friday night. "I had one bad year and needed surgery afterwards," he said, "Its not like Ive never been good before." Lackey was 14-11 in his first season after signing a five-year, $82.5 million contract as a free agent. Then he faltered in 2011, going 12-12 with a 6.41 ERA while battling elbow problems. He had Tommy John surgery after that season and missed all of 2012. Now hes 3-4 with a 2.72 ERA in a season in which hes allowed more than three earned runs in just one of his seven starts. And he said his elbow feels fine. "Hes not thinking about anything thats taken place in the past, either performance-wise or injury-wise," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "The benefit that he had coming into this year was that spring training started 16 months post-op for him, so he was a little bit further along in the recovery than maybe the typical Tommy John" patient. His season is going so well that the crowd, which booed him often during the 2011 season, chanted "Lackey, Lackey" after he finished his night by striking out Mark Reynolds and Jason Giambi to end the seventh inning. "Its been a lot of fun," Lackey said. "My arm strength is getting better. Endurance is getting better. Things are going on the right track." Mike Carp began the scoring with a three-run homer in the second, breaking an 0-for-21 slump. "It definitely means a lot," he said. "Ive been struggling for playing time and to have a big at bat like that it builds confidence heading into the next couple days." The homer also ended a 20-inning scoreless streak for Justin Masterson (7-3) and followed a walk to David Ortiz and a single by Mike Napoli. "This was probably the first (start) I didnt really feel the greatest," Masterson said. "I was just kind of pushing (the ball) to the plate. I dont know if the weather had anything to do with that." The Indians fell out of first place in the AL Central and a half-game behind the Detroit Tigers, who beat the Minnesota Twins 6-0. The Red Sox remained one game behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees, who beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-4. It was the second straight strong performance by Lackey. Last Sunday he gave up one hit and one unearned run in six innings of a 5-1 win at Minnesota. He left that game after a three-hour rain delay. The start of Fridays game was delayed by 44 minutes. "Both teams play in it, so its a better night if youre winning," Indians manager Terry Francona said. Lackey struck out eight, walked three and gave up an unearned run while pitching through a steady rain. He allowed only two of the 25 batters he faced to hit the ball out of the infield. "He had velocity," Francona said. "He ended up throwing that cutter very effectively, kind of ran it in on our lefties. As he got more successful with it, he started bringing it off the plate a little bit, opening up the rest of the plate." He also made a nice fielding play, ranging toward first base to pick up a grounder, skidding on his knees and throwing out speedy Michael Bourn in the sixth. "It was kind of a crazy night with the rain, kind of got everybody a little off balance probably," catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said, "but Lack did a great job. I think regardless of anything he was going to go out there and do that." Former Red Sox manager Francona received an ovation when he walked back to the dugout after making two pitching changes in the seventh, when Boston scored four runs. Francona returned to Fenway Park as an opposing manager on Thursday night for the first time since he was let go by the Red Sox after the 2011 season. The Indians won that game 12-3. After Carps homer, the Indians made it 3-1 in the third. Singles by Reynolds and Michael Brantley put runners at first and second before Lackey retired two batters. On a double-steal attempt, Saltalamacchia threw the ball into left field, allowing Reynolds to score and Brantley to reach third. The Red Sox made it 4-1 in the sixth when they loaded the bases with one out. Daniel Nava was hit by a pitch and Dustin Pedroia and Ortiz singled. Napoli grounded to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who threw to second baseman Jason Kipnis for a forceout. Kipnis throw to first pulled Nick Swisher off the bag as Napoli reached safely and Nava scored. Pedroia also tried to score, but Swisher threw him out. Boston took an 8-1 lead in the seventh on two-run singles by Jacoby Ellsbury and Pedroia. Notes: Giambi is hitless in his last 26 at bats after going 0-for-4. .. Cleveland activated Swisher off the paternity list and optioned IF Cord Phelps to Triple-A Columbus. ... The Red Sox recalled RHP Alfredo Aceves and IF Jose Iglesias from Triple-A Pawtucket and placed OF Shane Victorino and 3B Will Middlebrooks on the 15-day disabled list. They also activated C David Ross off the 7-day concussion disabled list and sent C Ryan Lavarnway to Pawtucket. ... Clevelands Scott Kazmir (2-2) faces Jon Lester (6-1) on Saturday in the third game of the four-game series. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Zack-Martin-Jersey/ . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Cole-Beasley-Jersey/ . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Hats/ . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Lp-Ladouceur-Jersey/ . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Demarcus-Lawrence-Jersey/ . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season.The world of tennis has reacted with shock after Maria Sharapova revealed she failed a drugs test at the Australian Open. The former world No 1 and five-time Grand Slam champion announced in Los Angeles on Monday night that she had tested positive for a drug called meldonium, which was recently added to the banned list.Sky Sports tennis expert Annabel Croft told Sky Sports News HQ: The last 24 hours everybody has been gearing up for Maria retiring, thinking about her career and her utter ruthless determination shes shown towards her sport. Now this has thrown a spanner in the works. Its come as a complete shock. Knowing the character she is, she will fight it all and go about her business in an utterly professional way like she has done in her tennis.There will be discussions and meetings and a lot of waiting time. But in terms of the world of tennis it will be a massive shock. She is such a huge name in the world of tennis. Annabel Croft is blown away by Maria Sharapovas admission Sharapova, who became Wimbledon champion as a 17-year-old in 2004, admitted she does not know the possible sanctions she will face, although the Russian will be provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Federation from March 12.She is the highest-paid female athlete in world sport over the last 11 years, according to Forbes, having earned a large part of her income through sponsor endorsements and her own sweet business, Sugarpova.Asked whether a ban could curtail her career due to how old she would be when she returns, Croft added: When you look at what Serena Williams has achieved - shes 34 and still going strong - depending how long the ban will be, knowing the injuries shes had to face and how shes come back, I dont think it would be. Sharapova shock Maria Sharapova admits to failing a drugs test Shes such a professional.dddddddddddd Thats why its such a surprise its happened. If its a longer ban then it could be difficult.Her career has been perfect up until now. Shes one of the highest paid athletes and her contracts are worth so much and shes a major global star. Anything like this is not good for a brand but lets wait for more details of the case.Sky Sports tennis expert Barry Cowan was equally stunned and stated it was a valuable lesson for other athletes to learn that you are responsible for what you put in your body. Cowan said: Im shocked. Its an amazing sequence of events. Her attention to detail on and off the court is why Ive held her in such high esteem, but its been her undoing on this occasion and she will pay the consequences for it.I dont think it will tarnish her image or the sports image. Its right she will serve a ban but I think things will move quite quickly because she hasnt denied it. Barry Cowan says Sharapovas image will not be tarnished Martina Navratilova, 18-Grand Slam winner (@Martina) tweeted: Sharapova Announces That She Failed Doping Test - hope this gets cleared up as it seems 2 me to be an honest mistakeAndy Murrays former coach Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) tweeted: Still stunned that nobody on Shazza team checked new list from wada, players are responsible but this is big time oversight on team as wellBritish player Alex Ward (@AlexWard1990) tweeted: Whole tennis world currently googling meldoniumFormer UK No 1 Andrew Castle (@AndrewCastle63) tweeted: Whats Meldonium? Hold on. This is weird. Wada issue their list of banned substances and you dont look? Nor do management? 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