FINAL: Red Sox 5, Athletics 4 - Sox get Resilient Win in Extras

The Red Sox (4-2) have won three games in a row, and have clinched the series win against the Oakland Athletics (1-5), winning 5-4 in eleven innings. Trevor Story continues his great start to the season, and Ceddanne Rafaela and Josh Winckowski showed out in the 11th.

After scoring a run in each of the first three innings, the Sox would go down 4-3 after a pair of two run shots off the bats of Shea Langeliers and JJ Bleday in the second and third innings. Trevor Story would tie the game in the seventh with a RBI double, and the score would stay tied until the top of the 11th, where Tyler O'Neill would ground into a double play, but would knock in the winning run as Wilyer Abreu came into score.

Red Sox reliever Josh Winckowski saved the day in extra innings, striking out three batters and getting out of a jam in the tenth, trapping Ryan Noda between third and home and striking out Seth Brown to end the inning. He would get the win, his first on the year.

One player that stood out tonight in the game but not in the box score was Ceddanne Rafaela. He went 0-4 with a walk, but he made multiple defensive changes throughout the game, switching between center field and second base. It was his game saving play in center in the bottom of the 11th, where he made a great running catch to force Seth Brown back to second, then Winckowski would strike out Lawrence Butler to end the game.

My Player of the Game: Trevor Story - Story went 3-5 at the plate, with two RBI doubles. He also made some great plays in the field, which is nothing surprising coming from a fielder of his caliber. He has a chance to be my series MVP tomorrow afternoon.

Game three of three will be tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch at 3:37. Probable starters are Nick Pivetta (0-1, 1.50 ERA) and Ross Stripling (0-1, 7.20 ERA).
                                         
                                                                                                                                                                                                                ______________________________________________


WHO: Red Sox (3-2) at Oakland Athletics (1-4)
WHEN: 9:40 p.m.
WHERE: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland.
SERIES TO DATE: 1-0
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Brayan Bello (1-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. LHP Alex Wood (0-1, 16.20 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran LF
Tyler O'Neill RF
Rafael Devers 3B
Trevor Story SS
Pablo Reyes 2B
Triston Casas DH
Ceddanne Rafaela CF
Bobby Dalbec 1B
Connor Wong C

SP Brayan Bello

OPPONENT

Ryan Noda 1B
Zack Gelof 2B
JJ Bleday CF
J.D. Davis 3B
Seth Brown LF
Brent Rooker DH
Shea Langeliers C
Lawrence Butler RF
Nick Allen SS

SP Wood

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox last night began a 3-game series at OAK, continuing their season-opening,10-game, 11-day West Coast road trip...Boston is off on Thursday, 4/4, before ending the trip with a 3-game series at LAA from Friday-Sunday. The Sox’ game on 4/9 vs. BAL is the latest scheduled.

Boston leads MLB with a 1.42 ERA (7 ER/44.1 IP), the club’s 3rd-lowest mark through 5 games in the Live Ball Era (since 1920; 1.40 ERA in 1999 and 1924).

Last night, Jarren Duran singled and stole 2nd base in each of the first 3 innings, finishing 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored, an RBI, and 3 stolen bases. Duran became the 1st player in the Expansion Era (since 1961) and 1st player in Red Sox history to record at hit and steal a base in each of a game’s first 3 innings.

Through the Red Sox’ first 5 games of the season, Boston’s starting pitchers have allowed just 5 runs (4 ER) in 28.0 innings with 1 BB and 37 SO. Sox starters lead MLB in ERA (1.29) and SO (tied, 37), and rank 2nd in WHIP (0.64), and 3rd in opponent AVG (.170).

Trevor Story has the most experience on the Red Sox against A's starter Alex Wood, with a .261 AVG, 1 HR, 1 BB, and 6 SO. Last night, Story hit a 2 RBI double in the 3rd inning that extended the Sox' lead to 8-0. He also walked and scored in the 6th.

A patch with Tim Wakefield’s number 49 will be worn by players on their jersey sleeve throughout the season...The navy patch is shaped like a heart, a nod to Wakefield’s role as Honorary Chairman of the Red Sox Foundation.