| May 25, 2008 Red Sox lose to A's 3-0
|
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Justin Duchscherer carried a no-hit bid
into the seventh inning, Ryan Sweeney homered and the Oakland
Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 3-0 on Saturday night for their
first series win in their past five.
Duchscherer (4-3) outdueled Josh Beckett and had a perfect game
going into the sixth before he plunked Jason Varitek to start the
inning. David Ortiz broke up the no-hit bid with a single up the
middle with one out in the seventh.
Duchscherer struck out four and didn't issue a walk in eight
innings, allowing just that one hit. Huston Street finished the
team's second shutout of the year with a 1-2-3 ninth for his 10th
save in 12 chances.
The 2-hour, 17-minute game was the fastest for Boston this year.
The 30-year-old Duchscherer lost his previous two outings and
had all of three career starts in the big leagues coming into this
season, then spent a stint on the disabled list with a strained
biceps muscle.
Duchscherer's gem came one day before Boston's Jon Lester takes
the mound for his first start since pitching the majors' first
no-hitter of 2008 on Monday over Kansas City. Boston was blanked
for the third time.
Beckett (5-4) wasn't bad himself. The righty, trying to win
consecutive starts for the second time this year, struck out nine
for the second straight start to match his second high this year.
He allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings and didn't walk
a batter for the second time in 2008, throwing
76 strikes among his
107 pitches.
The A's snapped Boston's seven-game winning streak with an 8-3
win in the series opener Friday, then took the middle game for
their third straight victory and to capture a series for the first
time since sweeping the Baltimore Orioles at home from May 5-7.
Duchscherer was efficient, regularly threw his curveball for
strike one, had his fastball working and commanded the zone with
all of his pitches.
After Varitek was hit to reach base for Boston, Coco Crisp tried
to bunt for a hit but the ball rolled just foul down the first-base
line before he later struck out. Duchscherer got through six
innings on 78 pitches.
After Beckett allowed Mike Sweeney's leadoff double in the
second, Emil Brown's RBI groundout gave the A's a 1-0 lead. Mark
Ellis followed with a single and Beckett then retired the next 11
Oakland hitters before Bobby Crosby's single leading off the sixth.
Ryan Sweeney connected for his second home run leading off the
seventh, giving the A's a longball in a season-best seven straight
games. Mike Sweeney singled in an insurance run in the eighth.
Jack Cust struck out looking in his first three at-bats against
Beckett, then was lifted for defense and Rajai Davis entered and
moved to center.
Slumping Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez got the night off, a
mental break of sorts. He is slated to play in Sunday's series
finale. Ramirez has two hits in his past 23 at-bats and is hitting
.189 (17-for-90) over his past 24 games.
"He's had a tough stretch," manager Terry Francona said. "He
came in here a little bit ago and said thanks. He's been working. I
think this will be really good for him. I can't imagine coming to
the ballpark and not wanting to put him in there. Sometimes it's in
our best interest."
Notes: The Red Sox went 0-for-18 in the first three innings Friday
and Saturday. ... A's rookie 1B Daric Barton was out and nursing
tonsillitis. He might not play until Tuesday, the series opener
against Toronto after a day off for the club Monday. ... The Red
Sox activated OF Brandon Moss from 15-day disabled list and
optioned him to Triple-A Pawtucket. Also, Boston RHP Julian Tavarez
was granted his release. ... The 2-year-old son of late A's pitcher
Joe Kennedy, Kaige, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Kennedy
died last November at age 28 from a heart condition.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
