Xander Bogaerts had three hits and three RBI, and the Boston Red Sox pounded out 13 hits on Thursday night to salvage the final game of a three game series with an 8-1 win over the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park. The win snaps a three game losing streak for Boston.
Boston (23-16) got off to a fast start when Michael Chavis doubled to lead off the bottom of the first, and was driven in on an RBI single by JD Martinez to make it 1-0. The very next pitch was lined off the foul pole above the green monster in left by Bogaerts for a two-run homerun to make it 3-0. Bobby Dalbec hit a two-run homer to center in the second, and Bogaerts added an RBI double to extend the advantage to 6-0 as the Sox would cruise to the victory.
Garrett Richards (3-2) was solid once again in getting the pitching win allowing no runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Garrett Whitlock allowed one run on three hits over the final 3.0 innings. Martinez also added three hits for Boston, while Chavis, Dalbec, and Hunter Renfroe had two a piece. Sean Manaea (3-2) was roughed up in the loss for Oakland allowing seven runs on 10 hits in just 2.0 innings. Mitch Moreland had two hits including a double and Matt Olson had an RBI groundout, as the Athletics record also goes to 23-16. The Red Sox open a three game series at Fenway on Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels. RHP Nick Pivetta starts on the hill for Boston, while LA counters with RHP Griffin Canning.
