Final: Red Sox 5, A's 2

Franchie Cordero snapped a 1-1 tie with a three-run homer in the sixth inning and Rich Hill provided six innings of one-run ball as the Red Sox won their fourth straight and completed a sweep of the Oakland A's with a 5-2 victory.

The win lifted the Red Sox to a .500 record (27-27) for the first time since April 22.

Hill allowed just three hits and at one point had retired 16 Oakland hitters in a row to win for the first time since May 14.

Rafael Devers provided some late insurance with his 12th homer of the season in the eight, a solo shot.

WHO: Red Sox (26-27) vs. Oakland A's (20-35)
WHEN: 4:07 p.m.
WHERE: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland CA
SERIES TO DATE: BOS 2-0
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Rich Hill (1-3, 4.85) vs. RHP Frankie Montas (2-5, 3.20)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI-FM 93.7

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Duran DH
Hernandez CF
Devers 3B
Bogaerts SS
Verdugo LF
Story 2B
Cordero RF
Vazquez C
Dalbec 1B

A's

Pinder LF
Andrus SS
Lowrie DH
Laureano RF
Bethancourt C
Brown 1B
Neuse 2B
Smith 3B
Pache CF

WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox have won each of their last 3 games...They are 12-5 in their last 17 games and 16-8 in their last 24 games, beginning 5/10. Beginning 5/10, the Sox rank T-2nd in MLB with a .667 (16-8) winning % (NYY-.720, 18-7; HOU-.667, 16-8). The Sox’ +35 run differential this season ranks 3rd in the AL behind NYY (+101) and HOU (+45)...Their +40 mark since the start of May also ranks 3rd in the AL behind NYY (+62) and HOU (+48). ...The Sox clinched the 3-game series win at OAK yesterday, improving to 5-1-1 in their last 7 series...They began the season 1-7-2 in series play. With a win today, the Sox will complete their 2nd series sweep of the season...They won all 4 games of their series vs. SEA from 5/19-22. ...The Sox would have a .500 record with a win today (27-27), their first time at .500 since improving to 7-7 with a 4-3 at TB on 4/22...They have not been above .500 since 4/19, when they were 6-5 after a 2-1 win vs. TOR. Despite being 12.0 games behind NYY for 1st place in the AL East, the Sox are 0.5 games behind LAA for the 3rd AL Wild Card spot. ...The Red Sox are in the midst of a 10-game road trip from 6/3-12 at OAK (2-0), LAA (4 games) and SEA (3 games). The Red Sox are 7-3 in their last 10 road games, beginning 5/10 at ATL, after going 6-10 through their first 16 road games this season. The 10-game road trip is tied for their longest of the season...The Sox also had a 10-game at TB (3), TOR (4), and BAL (3) from 4/22-5/1...Following the current trip, the Sox’ longest remaining road trip will be 9 games from 6/24-7/3 (at CLE, TOR, CHC). ...The Red Sox are also in a stretch during which they will play 19 games in 20 days from 6/3-22 and 25 games in 27 days from 6/3-29 (2-0 so far)...They will be off on Monday, 6/13 following their 10-game West Coast road trip and again on Thursday, 6/23 following a 9-game homestand.... The Red Sox lead the majors this season in XBH (189), doubles (134), total bases (772), and hard-hit balls (597)...They lead the AL in runs (257) and AVG (.260) and rank 2nd in SLG (.420), and OPS (.740). The Sox are averaging 6.8 runs per game in the last 24 games...During that time, they have hit .297 with an .874 OPS (256-for-862, 162 R, 75 2B, 3 3B, 34 HR). The Sox have hit 30 HR in their last 19 games after hitting 9 HR in their previous 15. .....The Red Sox feature an MLB-best 8 players with at least 20 RBI this season...The only other team with at least 7 players with 20+ RBI is LAD. The Sox also feature an MLB-best 7 players with 15+ XBH and AL-best 5 players who have scored 25+ runs. The Sox are the only team in the majors to feature multiple players batting .300+ with an .800+ OPS... They have 3: Xander Bogaerts (.330, .895), Rafael Devers (.336, .957), and J.D. Martinez (.353, .958). X-MAN: After establishing a franchise record for most games played at shortstop on Friday, ...Bogaerts set the franchise record for most starts at the position yesterday. Bogaerts surpassed Everett Scott’s records, both of which had stood since 1921. Bogaerts is a 2-time World Series champion (2013, ‘18), 3-time AL All-Star (2016, ‘19, ‘21), and 4-time Silver Slugger Award winner (2015, ‘16, ‘19, ‘21).: The Red Sox’ 5 primary starting pitchers have combined to post a 3.53 ERA (94 ER/239.2 IP) in their starts, each making at least 8 starts (see below)...They have posted a 1.82 ERA (7 ER/34.2 IP) in the club’s last 6 games. Red Sox starters have not allowed an earned run in the last 4 games...Nick Pivetta (7.0 IP yesterday) and Nathan Eovaldi (6.0 IP on Friday) have made back-to-back scoreless starts after Garrett Whitlock (6.0 IP) and Michael Wacha (5.2 IP) each allowed an unearned run in the club’s 2-game series vs. CIN. In 23 starts following a Red Sox loss this season, the 5 primary starting pitchers have combined to go 9-4 with a 2.56 ERA (36 ER/126.1 IP). ...The Sox are 1 of 2 teams who feature MLB-best 5 pitchers who own a sub-3.75 ERA while throwing at least 35.0 IP this season (also NYY): Wacha (2.43), Whitlock (3.02), Eovaldi (3.41), Pivetta (3.50), and Houck (3.72). Houck has not allowed a run in his last 12.0 IP spanning the last 5 outings, his longest career scoreless-innings streak...He has allowed 1 run in 15.0 IP over his last 6 appearances, all in relief (0.60 ERA, 10 H, 4 BB, 12 SO). ...Devers leads the majors this season in hits (75), XBH (34), and hard-hit balls (96), and leads the AL in doubles...He ranks 2nd in the majors in total bases (132) and 2nd in the AL in runs scored (40)....Martinez ranks 2nd in MLB in AVG (.353), and ranks 2nd in the AL in OBP (.415) and doubles (18). Since the beginning of May, Trevor Story leads the AL in RBI (35), trailing Paul Goldschmidt (37) and Pete Alonso (36) for the MLB lead... Devers has 395 runs and 396 XBH in his career...He would be just the 16th player to record 400+ runs and XBH prior to turning 26 ...The Red Sox rank 7th in the AL and 10th in the majors in defensive runs saved (18). Red Sox outfielders rank 2nd in the majors in ultimate zone rating (8.5). Jackie Bradley Jr. leads MLB right fielders in ultimate zone rating (4.2) and ranks 2nd among all outfielders (4.6) behind MIN’s Trevor Larnach (4.9). SOX & A’S: The Sox have won 4 of their 5 games at OAK since the start of last season...They are 9-10 at OAK from 2016-22, going 10-5 against the A’s at Fenway in that time. The Red Sox and A’s will play each other 6 times this season, with Oakland traveling to Fenway Park for a 3-game series later this month (6/14-16). Since the start of 2003, the Sox are 110-132 (.454) in the Pacific Time Zone, which includes games at LAA, OAK, SEA, LAD, SD, and SF...Against those same teams at Fenway Park in that same time, they are 152-84 (.644)...Devers is 4-for-6 lifetime against Frankie Montas.

NOTES: 

* J.D. Martinez was given the day off, with Jarren Duran filling in in the DH role.

* Chris Sale, in extended spring training, will throw another bullpen Tuesday and plans to face hitters in a Live BP session Friday.