AL: OAKLAND (75-83) at BOSTON (93-64) <h3>Red Sox edge closer to ending 11-year title drought</h3> Oakland (75-83) at Boston (93-64) 5:00 pm EDT BOSTON (Ticker) -- Just days ago, talk of an epic collapse by theBoston Red Sox was rampant. On Wednesday, as they wrap up atwo-game set with the Oakland Athletics, the end is in sight. Spurred by the return of Manny Ramirez, the Red Sox reducedtheir magic number for winning the American League East to threewith Tuesday's 7-3 victory over the A's. Ramirez, who had not played since since August 28 due to astrained left oblique, went 1-for-2 with a walk in his return. With five games remaining, Boston holds a three-game lead in theover the New York Yankees (90-67) in the division, but trailsthe Cleveland Indians (93-63) by a half-game for the best recordin the majors. In an effort to push the Red Sox closer to their first divisiontitle since 1995, they will call upon Jon Lester (4-0, 4.45ERA), who will look to extend his 10-game unbeaten streak. Hehas faced the A's only one other time, yielding one run overfive frames last season. The lefthander has registered consecutive no-decisions,including his last outing on September 18 when he allowed onerun and three hits over 6 2/3 innings in a 4-3 loss to theToronto Blue Jays. Joe Blanton (14-10, 3.84) gets the start for the A's. Blantontook the loss on Friday yielding four runs and 10 hits over 52/3 innings in a 4-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians. The loss ended Blanton's three-start winning streak and the fourruns allowed were the most he has permitted in a game sinceAugust 25. Over his career, the righthander is 2-1 in four lifetime startsagainst the Red Sox with a 2.60 ERA.
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">OAKLAND AT BOSTON -- LINEUPS OAKLAND BOSTON AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Shannon Stewart LF .290 12 48 Dustin Pedroia 2B .314 7 49 Daric Barton 1B .345 3 7 Manny Ramirez LF .293 20 86 Nick Swisher CF .265 22 75 David Ortiz DH .321 33 114 Mike Piazza DH .281 7 43 Mike Lowell 3B .324 20 111 Jack Cust RF .262 26 82 J.D. Drew RF .265 10 58 Mark Ellis 2B .271 19 76 Kevin Youkilis 1B .287 16 81 Kurt Suzuki C .255 7 38 Jason Varitek C .255 15 66 Jack Hannahan 3B .287 3 23 Jacoby Ellsbury CF .367 3 17 Donnie Murphy SS .211 5 18 Julio Lugo SS .240 8 73 Joe Blanton RHP (14-10, 3.84) Jon Lester LHP (4-0, 4.45)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON WARMUPS: OAK - JOE BLANTON (14-10, 3.84) BOS - JON LESTER (4-0, 4.45) UMPIRES: HP - ROB DRAKE 1B - LARRY PONCINO 2B - GARY DARLING 3B - JERRY MEALS WEATHER: 93 Degrees, clear WIND: 17 mph, out to center</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON STARTING BATS: OAK - JOE BLANTON AND KURT SUZUKI BOS - JON LESTER AND JASON VARITEK DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.290, 12 HR, 48 RBI) D BARTON (.345, 3 HR, 7 RBI) N SWISHER (.265, 22 HR, 75 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 1 0 BOSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON BOS - JON LESTER DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.314, 7 HR, 49 RBI) M RAMIREZ (.293, 20 HR, 86 RBI) D ORTIZ (.321, 33 HR, 114 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290 D Barton 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .356 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .280 J Cust rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 D Murphy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 3 2 BATTING: 2B - D Barton (9, J Lester). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Piazza 1. Team LOB - 1. BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314 M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321 M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324 J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 J Ellsbury cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .367 J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 0 -- 0 BOSTON - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.84 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Lester 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 4.37 Pitches-strikes: J Lester 13-12. Ground balls-fly balls: J Lester 0-0. Batters faced: J Lester 4. UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: 93 degrees, clear. Wind: 17 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON CONFIRMED STARTERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON BOS - JON LESTER</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 1 0 BOSTON 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON BOS - JON LESTER DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.262, 26 HR, 82 RBI) M ELLIS (.271, 19 HR, 76 RBI) K SUZUKI (.255, 7 HR, 38 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS BOSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290 D Barton 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .356 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .280 J Cust rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 D Murphy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 3 2 BATTING: 2B - D Barton (9, J Lester). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Piazza 1. Team LOB - 1. BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313 M Ramirez lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .295 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .323 J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 J Ellsbury cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .367 J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 0 -- 0 BOSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.82 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Lester 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 4.37 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 16-9; J Lester 13-12. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 2-1; J Lester 0-0. Batters faced: J Blanton 4; J Lester 4. UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: 93 degrees, clear. Wind: 17 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 0 2 0 BOSTON 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON BOS - JON LESTER DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J DREW (.265, 10 HR, 58 RBI) K YOUKILIS (.287, 16 HR, 81 RBI) J VARITEK (.255, 15 HR, 66 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290 D Barton 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .356 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .280 J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 M Ellis 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272 K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .254 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 D Murphy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 Totals 7 0 2 0 0 5 3 BATTING: 2B - D Barton (9, J Lester). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Piazza 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: CS - M Ellis (4, 2nd base by J Lester/J Varitek). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313 M Ramirez lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .295 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .323 J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 J Ellsbury cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .367 J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Varitek-D Pedroia). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 00 -- 0 BOSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.82 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Lester 2 2 0 0 0 5 0 4.30 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 16-9; J Lester 28-22. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 2-1; J Lester 0-0. Batters faced: J Blanton 4; J Lester 7. UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: 93 degrees, clear. Wind: 17 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 0 2 0 BOSTON 0 0 0 3 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON BOS - JON LESTER DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J HANNAHAN (.287, 3 HR, 23 RBI) D MURPHY (.211, 5 HR, 18 RBI) S STEWART (.290, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS BOSTON (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290 D Barton 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .356 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .280 J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 M Ellis 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272 K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .254 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 D Murphy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 Totals 7 0 2 0 0 5 3 BATTING: 2B - D Barton (9, J Lester). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Piazza 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: CS - M Ellis (4, 2nd base by J Lester/J Varitek). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313 M Ramirez lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .295 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .323 J Drew rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .267 K Youkilis 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .288 J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .255 J Ellsbury cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .364 J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .239 Totals 9 0 3 0 0 1 8 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lugo 1. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Varitek-D Pedroia). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 00 -- 0 BOSTON - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 2 3 0 0 0 1 0 3.81 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Lester 2 2 0 0 0 5 0 4.30 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 30-19; J Lester 28-22. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 2-3; J Lester 0-0. Batters faced: J Blanton 9; J Lester 7. UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: 93 degrees, clear. Wind: 17 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE SACRIFICE FLY BY NICK SWISHER SCORED DONNIE MURPHY. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D BARTON ON FIRST, S STEWART ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1 BOSTON 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M PIAZZA (.280, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 1 1 3 0 BOSTON 0 0 0 3 1 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON BOS - JON LESTER DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.313, 0-FOR-1) M RAMIREZ (.295, 1-FOR-1) D ORTIZ (.321, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289 D Barton 1b 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .356 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 .265 M Piazza dh 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .279 J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 M Ellis 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272 K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .254 J Hannahan 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .285 D Murphy ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .217 Totals 11 1 3 1 1 6 7 BATTING: 2B - D Barton (9, J Lester). SF - N Swisher. RBI - N Swisher (76). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Piazza 2. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: CS - M Ellis (4, 2nd base by J Lester/J Varitek). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313 M Ramirez lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .295 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321 M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .323 J Drew rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .267 K Youkilis 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .288 J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .255 J Ellsbury cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .364 J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .239 Totals 9 0 3 0 0 1 8 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lugo 1. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: E - J Lester (1, throw). DP: 1 (J Varitek-D Pedroia). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 001 -- 1 BOSTON - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 2 3 0 0 0 1 0 3.81 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Lester 3 3 1 0 1 6 0 4.22 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 30-19; J Lester 57-39. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 2-3; J Lester 2-1. Batters faced: J Blanton 9; J Lester 13. UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: 93 degrees, clear. Wind: 17 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MIKE LOWELL SCORED DUSTIN PEDROIA AND MANNY RAMIREZ. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M LOWELL ON FIRST, D ORTIZ ON THIRD, 0 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1 BOSTON 2 BOTTOM, 3RD DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J DREW (.267, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE SACRIFICE FLY BY J.D. DREW SCORED DAVID ORTIZ. SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, M LOWELL ON FIRST, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1 BOSTON 3 BOTTOM, 3RD DUE UP FOR BOSTON: K YOUKILIS (.288, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 1 1 3 0 BOSTON 0 0 3 3 5 1 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON BOS - JON LESTER DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.261, 0-FOR-1) M ELLIS (.272, 1-FOR-1) K SUZUKI (.254, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at BOSTON <div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS BOSTON (3) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289 D Barton 1b 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .356 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 .265 M Piazza dh 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .279 J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 M Ellis 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272 K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .254 J Hannahan 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .285 D Murphy ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .217 Totals 11 1 3 1 1 6 7 BATTING: 2B - D Barton (9, J Lester). SF - N Swisher. RBI - N Swisher (76). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Piazza 2. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: CS - M Ellis (4, 2nd base by J Lester/J Varitek). BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Pedroia 2b 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .313 M Ramirez lf 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .296 D Ortiz dh 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 .321 M Lowell 3b 2 0 1 2 0 0 1 .325 J Drew rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 .267 K Youkilis 1b 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .287 J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 .255 J Ellsbury cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 .360 J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .239 Totals 13 3 5 3 3 3 12 BATTING: SF - J Drew. RBI - M Lowell 2 (113), J Drew (59). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lugo 1, J Ellsbury 1. Team LOB - 5. FIELDING: E - J Lester (1, throw). DP: 1 (J Varitek-D Pedroia). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 001 -- 1 BOSTON - 003 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 3 5 3 3 3 3 0 3.91 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Lester 3 3 1 0 1 6 0 4.22 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 64-35; J Lester 57-39. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 2-4; J Lester 2-1. Batters faced: J Blanton 17; J Lester 13. UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: 93 degrees, clear. Wind: 17 mph, out to center.</div>
