Tony Kemp (5) and Seth Brown (15) and Oakland A’s players celebrate their win over the Boston Red Sox to avoid getting swept at Fenway Park in Boston on Thu Jun 16, 2022 (AP News photo)
By Jerry Feitelberg
The Oakland A’s were able to finish off the disastrous nine-game road trip with a win over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday afternoon. It wasn’t easy, as the A’s know the Red Sox offense can erupt at any time, but they were able to hold on to beat Boston 4-3.
The A’s starter Paul Blackburn pitched very well for the A’s on Thursday. Blackburn went five and a third innings to win his sixth game. He allowed one run and eight hits. Blackburn walked two hitters and struck out four. He left the game with the A’s in the lead 4-1. The A’s bullpen did not cave when Boston scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Here’s how the game went. Oakland scored three runs in the top of the third. With one out, centerfielder Cristian Pache doubled when Boston’s second baseman Trevor Story misjudged the ball, and it fell in safely.
Chad Pinder singled to drive in Pache with the A’s first run. Ramon Laureano followed with a double to deep right-center-field. A’s catcher, Christian Bethancourt, who has been swinging a hot bat, singled to drive in both runners.
The A’s led 3-0 midway through the third inning. The Sox got one back in their half of the third. Rafael Devers walked to start the inning. J.D.Martinez singled. Devers went to third on an error and scored on Xander Bogaerts ground-out. The A’s lead 3-1 after three.
With two out in the top of the seventh, Seth Brown singled. Brown went to second on a passed ball. Brown scored on Devers’ fielding error. The A’s led 4-1.
The Red Sox scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth. The A’s had lefty Sam Moll on the hill to work the eighth. Rob Refsnyder, pinch-hitting for Franchy Cordero, singled. Christian Vasquez walked to give Boston two men on and no out.
Moll retired Jackie Bradley, Jr. for the first out. Bobby Dalbec was out on a fly ball to centerfield. Rafael Devers reached on third baseman Jonah Bride’s throwing error. Vasquez advanced to third on the play. A’s manager Mark Kotsay brought in closer Dany Jiminez to pitch. J.D.Martinez drove in Vasquez with an infield hit. Jiminez got out of the jam by retiring Xander Bogaerts. The A’s led 4-3.
Jimenez set the Red Sox down 1-2-3 in the ninth to preserve the win for the A’s.
Game Notes: The A’s ended the road trip with two wins and even losses. They are 3-16 in their last 19 games. The A’s, for the season, are 22-43 and are in last place in the AL West. Boston drops to 34-30.
Blackburn threw 98 pitches, 61 for strikes. His record is now 6-2. Dany Jiminez earned his 11th save.
The line score for Oakland was four runs, eight hits, and two errors. Boston’s line was three runs, eleven hits, and one error. Boston won the season series with Oakland five games to one.
The A’s return home to face the Kansas City Royals for three games starting Friday night. The Royals have no announced a starter and Frankie Montas (3-6, 3.40) will go for Oakland.
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