By ALEX ESPINOZA | Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The A’s were shut out Wednesday in the finale of their opening homestand, as the Red Sox beat them 1-0, running Oakland’s scoreless streak to 17 innings.
Wednesday’s matinee was their third shutout loss of the week-old season, though manager Mark Kotsay saw the eight-hit performance as an improvement over the prior night’s loss.
“The at-bats were better, even though we didn’t score,” Kotsay said. “The Red Sox bullpen has got it going right now. It was a challenge.”
The A’s drew 6,436 for the game and a total of 45,068 fans for a homestand in which they went 1-6 and dropped to an AL-worst minus-29 run difference.
The team has announced plans to move to Las Vegas for the 2028 season and it is uncertain where the A’s will play in 2025.
Ross Stripling (0-2) gave up eight hits in seven innings and lost his seventh consecutive decision since beating Toronto on Oct. 1, 2022.
Nick Pivetta combined with four relievers on Boston’s second shutout of the series. Enmanuel Valdéz hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning for the only run of the game as Boston completed the sweep.
“Good teams find ways to win games like that and we did,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “I know a lot of people throughout the years, they get on us because we come here and we don’t sweep, or we lose the series, whatever. You know what? We swept and now we move on.”
Pivetta (1-1) threw 90 pitches before Boston went to the bullpen. Joely Rodriguez got two outs, Justin Slaten four, and Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen pitched an inning each.
After a pair of one-out walks, Jansen got Abraham Toro to hit into a forceout and then struck out Ryan Noda for his second save this season and the 422nd of his career, tying Bill Wagner for sixth place. Up next on the list is Francisco Rodriguez (437 career saves) in fifth place.
“I think it’s awesome to tie a guy like that,” Jansen said. “That’s the thing that should motivate you. One of the greats that did it. He’s probably the best lefty closer.”
Jarren Duran of Boston went 4 for 4 and raised his batting average to .393.
Boston lowered its ERA to a major league-best 1.54 and the Red Sox bullpen extended their scoreless streak to 17 innings.
Triston Casas, Masataka Yoshida and and Ceddanne Rafaela hit consecutive one-out singles in the fourth, and Valdéz flied to right as Casas scored easily.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: RHP Kutter Crawford (0-0) starts Friday at the Los Angeles Angels in the opener of the final series of a three-city trip. He allowed an unearned run over six innings in his first outing, a 4-3 loss at Seattle. RHP Griffin Canning (0-1) starts for the Angels.
Athletics: LHP JP Sears (0-1) starts a series opener Friday at Detroit.