Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s lost to the Boston Red Sox Wednesday afternoon at Fenway Park again to extend their losing streak to six games. The Red Sox won the game 7-3 and swept the series from the A’s and won the season series 4-3. The A’s offense slumbered through eight innings before waking up in the ninth when they put two runs on the board. It was too little, too late.

Mike Fiers started for Oakland and took the loss. Fiers pitched five innings and allowed three runs on five hits. Fiers allowed his ninth round-tripper of the year when Mitch Moreland hit a solo homer into the seats of the Green Monster in the fourth inning.

The A’s grabbed the early lead in the top of the second. The Red Sox tied the game in their half of the second. The Sox added one run in the fourth on Moreland’s blast and one in the fifth to take the lead 3-1 and end Fiers’ day.

The Red Sox added three in the bottom of the sixth. A’s manager Bob Melvin brought in J.B.Wendelken to pitch. Boston had the bases loaded with two out when Tzu-Wei Lin reached on an infield single. Andrew Benintendi singled to left center to drive in two more, and Boston was in the driver’s seat 6-1.

Red Sox catcher Christian Vasquez homered to lead off the seventh and extended Boston’s advantage 7-1.

The A’s offense came to life in the top of the ninth. Matt Chapman led off the frame with a double to center field off Red Sox reliever Tyler Thornburg. Khris Davis followed with a double down the left field line to drive in Davis. Thornburg retired the next two A’s hitters, but Chad Pinder was able to beat him with a double to drive in Davis. The A’s could do no more, and the game was over.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s fall to 14-19. Mike Fiers saw his record drop to 2-3. The Red Sox improve to 14-17. The winning pitcher was Marcus Walden, who pitched three innings to see his record improve to 4-0.

The A’s used five pitchers while Boston primarily played a bullpen game. Hector Velasquez started and went just two innings. Marcus Walden pitched the next three. The Red Sox used four more pitchers to finish the game.

The A’s are 0-6 on the nine-game road trip. They are 4-11 so far this year on the road. The line score for Oakland was three runs, seven hits, and no errors. They had just four hits through eight innings, and the offense looked inept. The Red Sox line was seven runs, nine hits, and no errors. Mitch Moreland and Christian Vasquez homered for Boston.

Time of game was two hours and 55 minutes. 33,708 people watched the game in chilly 50-degree weather under overcast skies.

Up Next: The A’s are off on Thursday. They travel to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates in interleague play. The A’s will not be able to use the DH as the game will be performed using National League rules. The A’s return home and start a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds next Tuesday.