by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s and the Red Sox played a very entertaining game Monday night. The Red Sox won 5-4 in eleven innings sending the A’s down to their sixth straight loss. Scott Kazmir went six innings for Oakland and pitched well giving up just two runs and four hits. Red Sox starter, Rick Porcello went five innings and he was touched for 3 runs and nine hits. Neither pitcher figured in the decision.  Neither team would give and each team rallied to either tie the game or take the lead. The game was tied 4-4 after 9 innings and it took two more innings to decide the winner. The A’s bullpen failed the team once again. Evan Scribner gave up two runs to Boston and Pablo Sandoval took Angel Castro deep to win the game for the Sox. Final score 5-4 in favor of Boston.

The A’s took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. A’s leadoff hitter, Billy Burns, reached first on a two-strike bunt single. Former Giants’ third baseman, Pablo Sandoval, made a nice bare-handed play but Burns was too fast and he beat Sandoval’s throw to reach safely. Burns reached second on a wild pitch by Rick Porcello and scored on a single to right by A’s designated hitter, Billy Butler.

The Red Sox tied the game at one in the top of the fourth. Red Sox second baseman, Dustin Pedroia, walked with one out. David Ortiz singled to left center and Pedroia did not stop at third base, The A’s tried to nail him at home, but Stephen Vogt could not handle the throw from shortstop Marcus Semien. Semien was charged with an error on the throw. The game didn’t stay tied long. The A’s regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Ike Davis led off with a double to right-center field. Davis appeared to have injured himself but stayed in the game.  Brett Lawrie singled to right, but Davis could not score on the play and was replaced by Max Muncy. Marcus Semien hit into a 6-4-3 double play allowing Muncy to score. There was no RBI on the play.

The Red Sox tied the game in the top of the fifth. With two out. Rookie catcher, Blake Swihart, doubled. Sox center fielder, Mookie Betts, singled to drive in Boston’s second run of the game. The Red Sox almost took the lead, but A’s left fielder, Coco Crisp, made a leaping catch at the left field wall to rob Dustin Pedroia of a hit to end the inning.

The A’s scored their third run of the game in the bottom of the fifth. With two out, Billy Butler doubled to deep right centerfield. A’s catcher, Stephen Vogt knocked but in with a booming double. For Vogt, it was his team-leading 27th RBI of the year.  A’s lead 3-2 after five complete.

The Red Sox rallied in the top of the seventh inning. A’s manager called on Evan Scribner to pitch. The A’s bullpen has been a disaster for the club so far this year and Scribner’s did nothing to change that perception. Scribner allowed three straight singles and the Sox scored twice to take a 4-3 lead. The A’s rallied to tie in the bottom of the seventh. Former Athletic, Craig Breslow was called in to do the pitching in the seventh. Josh Reddick greeted him by hitting a single to right. Billy Butler followed with a single and Reddick advanced to third and then scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Stephen Vogt.

There was no more scoring in regulation and the game went to extra innings. In the top of the 11th, Pablo Sandoval hit a line shot into right field to put the Red Sox ahead 5-4. The hit came off A’s reliever, Angel Castro. Matt Barnes, pitching his second inning of relief for Boston, set the A’s down in order to seal the win for the Red sox.

Game Notes- The A’s are 1 -11 in one-run games and 0-6 in extra inning games. They are now 12-22 for the year and are 10 games under .500 for the first time since ending the 2011 season when they were 14 games under .500.

The line score for Boston was 5 runs on 10 hits and no errors while Oakland score 4 runs on 13 hits and 1 error.

First baseman Ike Davis had a left quadriceps strain and looks like he will miss two or three games.  The two teams will meet again Tuesday night. Drew Pomeranz ( 1-3, 5.12 ) will go for Oakland and he will be opposed by Boston’s Justin Masterson (2-1, 5.18). Game time was 3 hours and 57 minutes and 19,743 people were on hand to watch.

Game time will be at 7:05pm at theO.co Coliseum.