OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics returned home to a field still bearing markings from an NFL game played at the Coliseum 24 hours earlier and proceeded to get blitzed in their most lopsided loss of the season.
That it came against the Red Sox shouldn’t have surprised anyone. In four games versus Boston this season, manager Bob Melvin’s ballclub has allowed a minimum of 13 runs each time while being outscored 66-17.
This was just the latest in a series of blowouts.
David Ortiz singled twice and drove in three runs, David Price won his fifth consecutive start and the Red Sox routed the A’s 16-2 on Friday night.
“You know when you get behind in counts and get guys on base and you do it multiple innings, they end up making you pay,” Melvin said. “They’re first in the league in runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, everything. For a while we were in the game . then they did what they can do when you make some mistakes.”
Oakland committed two errors, but the big problem was pitching.
A’s starter Andrew Triggs lasted one inning before leaving with a sore back. The three relievers who immediately followed combined to give up 14 runs over 6 1/3 innings.
“It’s just frustrating to put the bullpen in that situation like that,” Triggs said. “I’m hopeful it will be something that will get resolved pretty quickly.”
Stephen Vogt had an RBI double for the A’s. Oakland, which has lost eight straight to Boston, dropped a season-high 20 games under .500 (57-77).
The A’s did all their scoring in the fourth. Billy Butler had a sacrifice fly and Vogt added an RBI double.
Travis Shaw homered and had five RBIs, Hanley Ramirez added three RBIs and Xander Bogaerts doubled and scored three runs to help the Red Sox move within one game of first-place Toronto in the AL East. Boston (75-59) is three wins shy of matching last season’s total.
Price (14-8) was mostly dominant while pitching seven solid innings against the overmatched A’s. The left-hander fanned five of the first seven he faced, gave up two runs and finished with seven strikeouts and three walks.
HONORING BIG PAPI
Before the game, Ortiz — wearing a blue Red Sox hoodie with his red cap on backward — spent time shaking hands and taking pictures with employees and security guards at the Coliseum. The Boston slugger also paused to sign autographs for a handful of fans lined up near the tunnel behind home plate before making his way back to the clubhouse. Later, Melvin and team president Michael Crowley presented Ortiz with a three-liter bottle of Northern California wine.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: RHP Joe Kelly, LHP Robby Scott and INF Deven Marrero were added to the roster from Triple-A Pawtucket. C Ryan Hanigan came off the DL before the game. RHP William Cuevas was designated for assignment.
Athletics: Former closer Sean Doolittle was activated from the DL after missing 59 games with a strained left shoulder. RHP Jesse Hahn was also activated off the DL and optioned to Triple-A Nashville. C Matt McBride was called up from Nashville.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: RHP Rick Porcello (18-3) faces the A’s for the second time this season Saturday night. Porcello has 23 strikeouts over his previous three starts overall and has gone seven innings or longer in five consecutive starts.
Athletics: RHP Daniel Mengden (1-5) will be called up from Triple-A Nashville to start against Boston.
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