The Red Sox road trip went from bad to worst with a highly frustrating 7-3 loss to the Oakland A's, their sixth defeat in eight games this season. The Sox dropped three-of-four to Oakland, just as they had done in the first series in Seattle.
The Sox had a 3-0 lead in the top of the third, but watched as the A's scored seven unanswered runs. Eduardo Rodriguez couldn't hold the lead and couldn't get through the fourth inning.
The lowlight came in the fourth when Gold Glove outfielders Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. allowed a ball to fall between them on the warning track in right-center, resulting in two runs scoring.
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
6:47 More questionable baserunning for the Red Sox and another -- yup, that's three for the series -- assist for outfielder Ramon Lareano as Mookie Betts is throwing out trying to go first-to-third on a single to center.
5:31 Red Sox didn't do much against Anderson after the first couple of innings. They let him off the hook a few times, leaving the bases loaded twice (first inning, fourth inning). Now, he's out and the A's will begin their parade of relievers.
5:06 What a disaster - a catchable ball falls in between two Gold Glove outfielders. Bradley pulls up as he drifts over to right center, while Betts expects Bradley to get it. The ball drops in, hops over the wall for a ground-rule double and it's two gift runs for the A's.
5:02 When you walk the No. 8 hitter after getting ahead 0-2, you deserve everything you get. Sure enough, the walk to Ramon Laureano comes back to bite Rodriguez.
4:36 Of the seven homers the A's have hit in this series, four (4!!) have been hit essentially to the same place: straightaway center field
4:34 That pitch could not have been more center-cut by Rodriguez - a four-seamer right over the heart of the plate, and with one swing by Stephen Piscotty, the Red Sox' 3-0 lead is quickly wiped out.
4:21 Third homer in eight games for J.D, Martinez, who uses his inside-out swing to drive the ball out to right and boost the Red Sox' lead to 3-0.
4:20 Probably not the smartest baserunning move by Pearce, who doesn't have great speed and hit the ball hard to left, which Robby Grossman took on a carom, then fired to second to get him out stretching.
4:17 Reasonably efficient start for Rodriguez so far - 14 pitches thrown in each of the first two innings/
3:50 Brett Anderson gift wraps two runs with two bases loaded walks forcing in runs. Rare for the Sox to be playing with a lead on this trip, but they're up 2-0 early.
3:41 A bit of a gamble for Bob Melvin to challenge two batters in. A's lose, and now have lost their replay challenge.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Athletics
WHEN: 3:35 p.m.
WHERE: Oakland Coliseum
SERIES TO DATE: Oakland leads 2-1
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (0-1. 10.38) vs. LHP Brett Anderson (1-0, 0.00)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI 93.7 FM
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Betts RF
Benintendi LF
Pearce 1B
Martinez DH
Bogaerts SS
Nunez 3B
Holt 2B
Vazquez C
Bradley CF
A's
Grossman LF
Semien SS
Piscotty RF
Davis DH
Pinder 3B
Canha 1B
Profar 2B
Laureano CF
Phegley C
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox and A's conclude their four-game series this afternoon...The Red Sox snapped a four-game losing streak Wednesday night, 6-3...Both Red Sox wins this year have been comeback victories. In Seattle, they rallied from a 6-1 deficit and on Wednesday, they overcame a 3-0 hole...The Sox have their bullpen to thank for the win Wednesday, with four shutout innings from their relievers. Overall, Boston relievers have thrown six straight scoreless innings and have yielded just three runs in their last 22 innings...Overall, the bullpen has allowed just one hit in the last 19 at-bats to the A's in the previous two games...J.D. Martinez has hit safely in all seven games, the longest season-opening hitting streak for a Red Sox player since Dustin Pedroia hit safely in his first eight games in 2017. He leads the Sox in hits (10), home runs (two), RBI (seven), average (.357), OBP (.419), slugging percentage (.571), and OPS (.991)...With a win today, the Sox can gain a split of the series. Prior to this set, the Red Sox were just 3-12-1 in their last 16 series at the Coliseum...Andrew Benintendi's triple in the ninth inning was the first triple for the Sox this season...Mookie Betts has doubles in each of last two games...Xander Bogaerts, who was out of the lineup Wednesday night, has hit safely in three straight...Rafael Devers is hitless in his last seven at-bats...In four career starts against the A's, Eduardo Rodriguez has a 2.33 ERA. He's thrown eight innings in each of his last two starts in Oakland...Kendrys Morales (8-for-27) has had some success against Rodriguez, while Khris Davis is hitless in 12 career at-bats...Meanwhile, Brett Anderson starts for the A's. Mookie Betts is 3-for-5 with two RBI, while Eduardo Nunez is 4-for-8 with an RBI.
PRE-GAME NOTES
- The Red Sox made a roster move prior to the game, activating 1B Steve Pearce (calf) form the injured list. To make room for Pearce, the Sox optioned Sam Travis to Pawtucket. Travis appeared in two games was 2-for-7 in his brief stay.