GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: BOSTON (37-20) at OAKLAND (30-27)

A's continue dominance of Red Sox

<h3>OAKLAND 3, BOSTON 2</h3>OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics continueto dominate the Boston Red Sox.

Bobby Crosby and Jack Cust combined for three RBI and JoeKennedy pitched seven stellar innings as the A's won their thirdstraight against the Red Sox, 3-2, on Wednesday.

Oakland has won a season-high five consecutive games and is fourgames over .500 for the first time this season. The A's havewon eight of their last nine against Boston.

After dropping the first three of the four-game set, the Red Soxhave lost a season-high four consecutive games and six of theirlast seven. It is the longest losing streak for Boston since asix-game stretch in August 2006.

The Red Sox have dropped seven straight contests in Oakland,which is their longest losing streak in the Coliseum since aneight-game skid from July 4, 1987 to August 31, 1988.

Kennedy (2-4), who suffered the loss in his last start despiteallowing just one run against Minnesota, was effective onceagain, yielding just two runs after scattering seven hits inseven innings.

Oakland opened the scoring with one out in the fourth inningwhen Eric Chavez's hard ground ball ricocheted off the firstbase bag and caromed into right field for a double. After DanJohnson grounded out to second and Shannon Stewart walked, Custbelted an RBI double down the right field line for a 1-0 edge.

Crosby would follow by lining a single to left, plating Stewartand Cust for a 3-0 cushion.

Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield (5-7), who allowed a season-higheight runs in his last start against the Yankees on Friday,fared much better against Oakland, yielding three runs and sevenhits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out a season-high eightbatters.

The righthander entered with a 9-4 lifetime record againstOakland and had not suffered a loss to the A's since August 6,2002, in Boston.

Boston answered back in the seventh when Manny Ramirez led offthe inning with a double to left and Kevin Youkilis belted anRBI triple to right. After Kennedy fanned Mike Lowell for thesecond out, Wily Mo Pena grounded to second, scoring Youkilisand cutting the lead to 3-2.

A's relievers Colby Lewis, Jay Marshall and Santiago Casillaworked a scoreless eighth. Casilla stayed on for the ninth,earning his first career save with a scoreless frame.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona was ejected by home plate umpireDan Iassongna in eighth inning after arguing a strike callduring Julio Lugo's at-bat.

 

A's continue dominance of Red Sox

<h3>OAKLAND 3, BOSTON 2</h3>OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics continueto dominate the Boston Red Sox.

Bobby Crosby and Jack Cust combined for three RBI and JoeKennedy pitched seven stellar innings as the A's won their thirdstraight against the Red Sox, 3-2, on Wednesday.

Oakland has won a season-high five consecutive games and is fourgames over .500 for the first time this season. The A's havewon eight of their last nine against Boston.

"It's fun," said Crosby of playing Boston. "They have theirfans who travel with them, and you hear the Red Sox fans and theOakland fans behind you. It's as close to a playoff atmosphereas you can get. People are into every pitch, so that makes itthat much more special."

After dropping the first three of the four-game set, the Red Soxhave lost a season-high four consecutive games and six of theirlast seven. It is the longest losing streak for Boston since asix-game stretch in August 2006.

The Red Sox have dropped seven straight contests in Oakland,which is their longest losing streak in the Coliseum since aneight-game skid from July 4, 1987 to August 31, 1988.

"There are no excuses, we just aren't playing well," Red Soxfirst baseman Kevin Youkilis said. "We haven't hit well. WestCoast, East Coast, you have to hit better, and play better.That's all there is to it."

Kennedy (2-4), who suffered the loss in his last start despiteallowing just one run against Minnesota, was effective onceagain, yielding just two runs after scattering seven hits inseven innings.

"Pretty much everything was working for me," Kennedy said. "Iwas able to throw my curveball over for strikes, and I got a lotof first-pitch strikes, which really helped. I was able tokeep the leadoff hitter off base until the seventh inning, whichreally helps. Anytime you do that, you're going to have a goodouting."

"It's surprising that he has only two wins considering how wellhe's pitched," Athletics manager Bob Geren said. "He did a goodjob again tonight. It was a much deserved win for him. Hepitched great."

Oakland opened the scoring with one out in the fourth inningwhen Eric Chavez's hard ground ball ricocheted off the firstbase bag and caromed into right field for a double. After DanJohnson grounded out to second and Shannon Stewart walked, Custbelted an RBI double down the right field line for a 1-0 edge.

Crosby followed by lining a single to left, plating Stewart andCust for a 3-0 cushion.

"The main thing is that I think our pitchers are doing a goodjob holding their offense," Crosby said. "They have goodpitching and guys that can swing he bat. If you can hold theiroffense to a few runs, then we can scratch a couple of across.That's exactly what we've been able to do."

Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield (5-7), who allowed a season-higheight runs in his last start against the Yankees on Friday,fared much better against Oakland, yielding three runs and sevenhits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out a season-high eightbatters.

"I felt that I pitched great until the fourth inning," Wakefield<div class="pre">said. "One bad pitch. was ahead in the count to Crosby and I</div>tried to bury a knuckleball, and it just stayed up in the zone.He was able to take advantage of it."

The righthander entered with a 9-4 lifetime record againstOakland and had not suffered a loss to the A's since August 6,2002, in Boston.

Boston answered back in the seventh when Manny Ramirez led offthe inning with a double to left and Youkilis belted an RBItriple to right. After Kennedy fanned Mike Lowell for thesecond out, Wily Mo Pena grounded to second, scoring Youkilisand cutting the lead to 3-2.

"We showed a lot of life late," Red Sox manager Terry Franconasaid. "We just aren't scoring a lot of runs in bunches the lastcouple of nights."

A's relievers Colby Lewis, Jay Marshall and Santiago Casillaworked a scoreless eighth. Casilla stayed on for the ninth,earning his first career save with a scoreless frame.

"The bullpen did a good job again tonight," Geren said."Santiago Casilla's first major league save, his third goodperformance in a row. He's worked hard in the minor leagues andI'm really happy for him."

Francona was ejected by home plate umpire Dan Iassongna ineighth inning after arguing a strike call during Julio Lugo'sat-bat.