BOSTON (AP) — On their way to a third last-place finish in four seasons, the Boston Red Sox shook up their front office on Tuesday night by hiring Dave Dombrowski as the new president of baseball operations and saying goodbye to general manager Ben Cherington.

Dombrowski takes over his fifth major league club immediately. The team said in a news release during its game against the Cleveland Indians that Cherington “declined the opportunity to continue as general manager” but will help with the transition.

“In nearly four decades in the game, Dave is a proven winner,” Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said. “He can restore winning ways to Yawkey Way and help to fulfill the Red Sox goal, every year, to be playing meaningful games into October.”

After taking over as the Montreal Expos GM at the age of 32, Dombrowski went on to build a World Series champion with the Florida Marlins. He took Detroit to the Series twice, winning four straight AL Central titles in 14 years in the Tigers’ front office.

But with Detroit playing below .500, Dombrowski was let go two weeks ago — shortly after the Red Sox announced that president and CEO Larry Lucchino would step away from the club at the end of the season. Red Sox COO Sam Kennedy will run the business of the ballclub, and Dombrowski takes over the baseball side.

Dombrowski said he was eager to get a head start on building the 2016 club. He said he had other teams interested but he saw great potential in the Red Sox’s farm system and in the young players who have already reached the major leagues.

Cherington built the Red Sox team that won the 2013 World Series, but the club finished last in his three other seasons. In all, his clubs won 289 games and lost 315.

“Ben Cherington is one of the finest individuals I have ever worked with, possessing a maturity and integrity second to none,” Henry said. “Over 17 years with the Red Sox and in the four years as our general manager, he always put the best interests of our organization first and foremost, winning a World Series Championship in 2013.”

Cherington took over from Theo Epstein after the team collapsed in September, 2011, going 7-20 to blow a nine-game lead in the AL wild-card race and miss the playoffs on the final day of the season. Cherington’s first season was doomed after he agreed to hire Bobby Valentine as manager, a move that resulted in the team’s worst finish in half of a century.

Red Sox rout Indians

BOSTON (AP) — Travis Shaw went 4 for 4, Mookie Betts drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double and the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians, 9-1 on Tuesday night.

Brock Holt had three hits and two RBIs for the Red Sox, who had 16 hits.

Eduardo Rodriguez (7-5) pitched eight solid innings, allowing one run and six hits while striking out five and not walking a batter.

Tonight

INDIANS: RHP Corey Kluber

(8-12) is coming off his second straight completegame victory, a one-hitter over the Twins on Friday.

RED SOX: Joe Kelly (5-6) has won three straight starts. Kelly allowed one run and four hits over six innings Friday.