A's rout Red Sox to get back in win column
OAKLAND -- The A's pounced on the Red Sox for a 9-2 victory at the Coliseum on Tuesday evening, getting home runs from Stephen Vogt, Josh Reddick and Marcus Semien to even this three-game series and snap their six-game losing streak.
Boston right-hander Justin Masterson was charged with six runs in just 2 1/3 innings, while lefty Drew Pomeranz mostly cruised through seven innings for the A's, allowing two runs while getting some excellent defensive help along the way.
"We've just been in a little funk for a stretch there, but this is who we are, this is how we played last year," said Pomeranz. "We'll just go from here now."
Dustin Pedroia had two singles and scored on a Mike Napoli single in the seventh. Boston compiled just four hits, though, while the A's racked up 12, including four from Reddick.
"We had a very good approach last night against [Scott] Kazmir. I thought tonight we squared up some balls," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "They made some good defensive plays. If we take care of our end of things from the mound, obviously that's a completely different game and those are completely different at-bats when you're within a run vs. eight."
Video: BOS@OAK: Pomeranz throws seven strong innings
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Power parade: Desperately needing to break away from a string of one-run losses, the A's relied on the long ball to distance themselves early. Four of the club's runs came courtesy the home run. Vogt notched his team-leading ninth of the season in the first inning with a two-run shot to right field, while Reddick and Semien each hit solo homers. Reddick went 4-for-5 with three RBIs, upping his average to .346.
"Between [Vogt] and Reddick, those are two of the better offensive producers in the league," said A's manager Bob Melvin.
Video: BOS@OAK: Semien hits Athletics' third home run
Masterson's struggles continue: The righty has struggled to get into a groove, but he might have bottomed out in this one. In his shortest stint of the season, Masterson gave up six hits and two homers. Masterson had only given up two homers combined in his first six starts.
"Clearly, he's not right," Farrell said of Masterson. "Whether that's physical, whether that's delivery-wise, the ball not coming out of his hand as he's shown for the better part of this year. We've got to gather some information overnight. We've got to check on him when he comes in in the morning, go through a full workup and just kind of get a better assessment of where things are." More >
Video: BOS@OAK: Sogard lines an RBI double past Victorino
Defense steps up: Though the A's committed their Major League-leading 35th error, they also made a handful of highlight-reel defensive plays -- starting in the first inning, when left fielder Coco Crisp threw out Pedroia trying to stretch a single into a double. Crisp then made an excellent catch in the second, robbing Napoli of extra bases. In the third, Vogt ended the inning with a sliding catch near the Red Sox's dugout, shortly after second baseman Eric Sogard had completed a nifty catch of his own. More >
Video: BOS@OAK: A's defense dazzles in win over Red Sox
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Coliseum has been a house of horrors for Masterson throughout the years, as he's now 0-6 with a 7.26 ERA there in his career.
Video: BOS@OAK: Vogt hits a two-run shot to right field
WHAT'S NEXT
A's: The A's will rely on their ace to guide them to a series win over the Red Sox in Wednesday's rubber match, with Sonny Gray set to take the mound for a 12:35 p.m. PT start at the Coliseum. Gray is 4-0 with a 1.65 ERA in his first seven starts.
Red Sox: Lefty Wade Miley draws the assignment for Boston. This could be a good matchup for Miley, as Oakland is 1-5 when facing a lefty starter this season.