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Final: Red Sox 7, Athletics 3 (9th) - Sox pound A's for 5 runs in second inning
The Red Sox scored five runs in the second inning while Nick Pivetta tossed five strong innings striking out eight batters. The righty allowed two runs, both earned on four hits and in the process gave Alex Cora length out of the bullpen. Boston had 10 hits and double-digit hits for the sixth straight game. Jarren Duran, Alex Verdugo and Justin Turner all had two hits each, this includes Duran's triple in the seventh inning.
WHO: Athletics (25-65) at Red Sox (46-43)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston.
SERIES TO DATE: Series opener, Sox were 5-1 last season versus the A's.
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Sam Long (0-0, 3.66 ERA) vs. LHP Brennan Bernardino (1-0, 2.70 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUP
RED SOX
1. Jarren Duran LF
2. Justin Turner DH
3. Rafael Devers 3B
4. Adam Duvall CF
5. Alex Verdugo RF
6. Kiké Hernández 2B
7. Triston Casas 1B
8. Connor Wong C
9. Yu Chang SS
SP Brennan Bernardino
ATHLETICS
1. Tony Kemp 2B
2. Jordan Diaz DH
3. Ryan Noda 1B
4. Brent Rooker LF
5. JJ Bleday CF
6. Jace Peterson 2B
7. Shea Langeliers C
8. Seth Brown RF
9. Tyler Wade SS
SP Sam Long
WHAT’S UP
The Red Sox are coming off a big series win over the AL West leading Texas Rangers and will now turn their attention to the last place Oakland Athletics. The Sox took two of three from the Rangers including defeating former righty Nathan Eovaldi on Thursday night, 10-6. Now the Sox will turn the page and Brennan Bernardino makes his second start of the week.
Bernardino tossed 1 1/3 innings in the series opening loss to the Rangers on Tuesday night. The southpaw threw a scoreless first inning, but then allowed a run in the second inning. In his last 13 outings, Bernardino has allowed three runs, eight hits, four walks and 16 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings and has issued one or fewer walks in each of his 24 outings this season.
Justin Turner has been one of the Sox hottest hitters since the June 9 when they played the Yankees. The veteran is hitting .354 with a 1.010 OPS during that span with six doubles, six homers and 24 RBI. Turner also owns a six game hitting streak including his two-hit performance in the series finale against Texas.
Connor Wong went 3-for-3 and a walk, it was the third time this season that he has had three or more hits in a game.
Alex Verdugo has been struggling, he’s hitless in his last 12 games but did score twice on Thursday night against the Rangers. He ranks T-2nd in the AL with doubles (26), T-12th in the AL in hits (91) and eight in runs (55). Verdugo will bat fifth on Friday night against the Athletics.
PRE-GAME NOTES
The Sox made a flurry of moves prior to the game on Friday night activating infielder Yu Chang off the 60-day injured list and reinstated lefty James Paxton from the Paternity List.
Boston also placed right-hander reliever Kaleb Ort on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, retroactive to July 5. To make room for Chang on the 26-man roster, David Hamilton was optioned to Triple-A Worcester and left-handed reliever Ryan Sheriff was designated for assignment.
Chang has been sidelined since the end of April after suffering a broken hamate in his left hand while facing the Orioles. After a few setbacks, Chang made significant progress and rejoined the Red Sox. Alex Cora told reporters earlier this week that once Chang returned to the club, he would be the starting shortstop.
Hamilton struggled in his first stint in the big leagues batting .138 with two stolen bases and a .472 OPS in 13 games with the Sox.