Ceddanne Rafaela’s first career grand slam lists Red Sox to 10th straight road win

The Red Sox found themselves in unfamiliar territory Monday night.

Boston managed just one hit through the first five innings against Athletics starter Jack Perkins, yet still found a way to open its seven-game California road trip on a winning note.

Ceddanne Rafaela broke the game open with the first grand slam of his career in the sixth inning, leading the Red Sox to a 4-2 win over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.

“I always want to be in those moments,” Rafaela told NESN’s Jahmai Webster on the field postgame. “I thought it was an out … but it had enough to go out.”

Boston improved to 55-50 and continued its remarkable turnaround after a 32-46 start. Since June 25, Chad Tracy's club is 23-4, including a perfect 10-0 record on the road. The Red Sox have also won 18 of their 21 games in July.

Payton Tolle bounced back after an early mistake to deliver another quality outing.

The rookie left-hander surrendered a leadoff home run to Tyler Soderstrom in the first inning but settled in from there, allowing two runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings. 

He walked one, struck out seven and generated 16 swings and misses, including eight with his four-seam fastball, six with his cutter and two with his sinker.

“I wouldn’t say he was as sharp as he’s normally been, but the good thing the velocity was there, throwing hard,” Tracy said of his starter after the game. “They drove some counts up on him, but overall he threw the ball well and navigated the lineup well. I thought he threw the ball well.”

The Athletics carried a 1-0 lead into the sixth behind Perkins, who retired 15 of the first 16 Red Sox hitters.

Connor Wong finally broke up the no-hit bid with a leadoff double before Masataka Yoshida and Anthony Seigler grounded out. Willson Contreras then worked a two-out walk, ending Perkins' night.

Left-hander José Suárez inherited runners at the corners but immediately walked Wilyer Abreu to load the bases. Rafaela followed by hammering a hanging slider 361 feet just over the left-field wall for his 11th home run of the season and the first grand slam of his career, giving Boston a 4-1 lead.

Rafaela entered the game batting fifth after starting each of his previous 51 games in the No. 2 spot.

Before the game, Tracy said the move was designed to let Rafaela run more aggressively on the bases with Caleb Durbin, Jarren Duran and Andruw Monasterio hitting behind him instead of having to be held because of the hitters batting behind him.

“If he gets on with some of the guys that play contact baseball behind him, he could be a little bit more active with his legs,” Tracy said before the game. “So that all went into it. Looked at it for a long time, but we have a powerful top half for sure.”

The debut for newcomer Curtis Mead was cut short.

Acquired from the Nationals on Saturday, Mead started at second base and batted second, going 0-for-1 before being hit on the left wrist by a 94.9 mph fastball from Perkins in the fourth inning. 

Mead remained in the game to finish the inning defensively but was replaced by Seigler before the bottom of the fifth with a left wrist contusion.

Tracy told reporters after the game that Mead was sore but his x-rays on his wrist were negative. It appears for now that Mead is considered day-to-day.

"We're just going to take a day to day and see how he feels coming in, but a little sore," Tracy said. "But at least right now, it looks like we dodged a bullet maybe."

The Athletics trimmed the deficit to 4-2 in the sixth when Jonah Heim led off with a solo home run, but Boston's bullpen made sure it went no further.

Justin Slaten, Jovani Morán, Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings to close out the victory.

The Red Sox continue their four-game series Tuesday night in Sacramento. Left-hander Jake Bennett (6-3, 2.58 ERA) is scheduled to start for Boston against Athletics left-hander Gage Jump (3-6, 4.42 ERA).