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. Mark Duper Youth Jersey . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. Miami Dolphins Jerseys . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. http://www.authenticdolphinspro.com/Michael-deiter-dolphins-jersey/ .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Ryan Fitzpatrick Youth Jersey . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. Jerome Baker Womens Jersey . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- If anyone wants to discuss the best college football teams in the country, just talk to Rutgers first-year coach Chris Ash.By the end of this weekend, Ash can give a firsthand scouting report on three of the top five programs.Rutgers (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) opened the season at now-No. 5 Washington. A week ago, the Scarlet Knights spent a long Saturday in Columbus, facing No. 2 Ohio State.Ash and his rebuilding team will get another crack at the big boys on Saturday night when No. 4 Michigan (5-0, 2-0) comes to High Point Solutions Stadium.Any program that plays three top-five schools in the first six weeks, thats a challenging schedule, Ash said. I dont know if there are a lot of coaches out there that would say: `Hey, Id like to sign up for that. Lets put that together.If there has been a common factor in the games against Washington and Ohio State, its the contests have been decided early.The Cougars, who were ranked No. 14 in that season opener, took a 24-0 first quarter lead en route to a 48-13 win. Ohio State turned a 30-0 halftime lead into a 58-0 rout.Michigan is coming off a 14-7 win over then-No. 8 Wisconsin.Its always fun to go into somebodys house, tight end Jake Butt said, and youre kind of backed up against the wall. Youve got a lot of adversity because youre going against their home crowd.The fun is silencing the home crowd with big plays. Two years ago, Michigan failed to do that and Rutgers fans stormed the field after the 26-24 win.The Wolverines are probably going to remember that.Here are some things to watch in the Michigan-Rutgers game.WOLVERINES OFFENSE: Quarterback Wilton Speight had a bit of a learning experience against Wisconsin and its pass rush. The first-year starter threw a lot of balls into traffic a lot and was picked offf for the first time since his first snap of the season.ddddddddddddIf you dont see any light at the end of the tunnel on a play, sometimes the best play is to just throw the ball out of bounds, and thats what Ill do from here on out, said Speight, who is 92 of 146 for 1,094 yards and 10 touchdowns.RUTGERS WOES: The Scarlet Knights offense never got deeper than the Ohio State 38-yard line last week. Quarterback Chris Laviano was sacked three times and hit three passes for 33 yards. The offense finished with nine first downs, 116 yards in total offense and just over 21 minutes in time of possession.MR. PEPPERS: Ash has a lot of respect for Michigans Jabrill Peppers. The junior who left New Jersey to attend Michigan has played 12 positions on offense, defense and special teams for the Wolverines. He took snaps in the wildcat last week.Hes as good as theres been, Ash said. He can do it all. Hes obviously got good size, freakish athletic ability, good ball skills. Hes tough, not afraid to hit you, when hes on offense, runs the ball, he runs it hard. He can make you miss, run through you. My years of coaching, hes as good as there is.UNIQUE DECOR: If youre watching on television and the stadium seems striped. It is. Rutgers has asked fans to stripe the stadium.Fans seated in odd numbered sections were asked to wear black and fans seated in even sections will wear scarlet. Rutgers students were asked to wear black to the game.THE PRIZE: The AFCA Coaches Trophy, presented by Amway, will be at Rutgers from Thursday through Saturday. This will be the sixth stop of a 10-city tour for the trophy. Fans will have the opportunity to take photos with it. ' ' '