By Kahlil Najar

BOSTON – Tonight was a night that the A’s pitching staff wishes they could forget. Dan Straily (1-2) threw more balls than strikes and the A’s relieving crew of Otero, Cook and Pomeranz gave up five runs in the last four innings including a grand slam to give Boston a 7-1 victory over the Athletics.

The A’s gave up two runs in the bottom of the second with a single from A.J. Pierzynski who was able to score Grady Sizemore and Jackie Bradley Jr. who hit a double to drive home Pierzynski. The A’s were able to get on the board in the third when Clay Buchholz threw a wild pitch and John Jaso was able to score from third.

The big hurt came in the bottom of the sixth when Dustin Pedroia hit a grand slam over the Green Monster and give the Red Sox a 6-1 lead. Pedroia now joins Carl Yastrzemski as the only players to hit 100 home runs and steal 100 bases in a Red Sox uniform. Mike Napoli added one more run in the bottom of the eighth when he singled home Shane Victorino and made it a 7-1 final.

On the A’s leaving 21 men on base Head Coach Bob Melvin said, “We hit some balls hard. We hit a lot of balls hard, actually — right at people and then didn’t get some hits when we did have some guys on base.”

For his pitching performance Straily said “I felt like every single time, every batter I was behind 2-0. That’s just not the way to pitch. It’s just a frustrating day.”

Boston and Oakland head back out tomorrow afternoon as Boston sends LHP Jon Lester (2-4) against Tommy Milone (0-2).