Bogaerts’ double highlights 6-run rally; Red Sox beat A’s
BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit a tying two-run double that sailed over the head of center fielder Ramón Laureano, who made a bad read during a six-run third inning, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 9-4 on Monday night.
Rookie Michael Chavis drove in three runs and Mookie Betts had three singles for Boston, which had lost two straight to AL East-leading Tampa Bay.
Ryan Brasier (1-0) got four outs and was credited with the victory after starter Eduardo Rodriguez failed to go five innings with Boston leading. Matt Barnes got the final two outs on two pitches for his second save after Oakland loaded the bases.
Jurickson Profar had a two-run single for Oakland, which lost its fourth straight. Frankie Montas (4-2) gave up seven runs, one earned, in 4 1/3 innings.
Trailing 4-0, the Red Sox took advantage of two errors to score six unearned runs, getting Bogaerts’ double when it went sailing over the head of Laureano, who initially charged in before turning and running to where it bounced. Chavis followed that with a two-run single that made it 6-4.
When Oakland took three of four from the Red Sox earlier this season, Laureano threw Bogaerts out in consecutive games. He also cut down Betts.
Betts and J.D. Martinez had RBI singles after second baseman Profar bounced a throw to second for the first error and Andrew Benintendi reached when Montas missed the bag covering first.
Oakland had taken a 4-0 lead in the second on Profar’s two-run single, an RBI single by Josh Phegley and a run-scoring double from Matt Chapman.
Rodriguez gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: OF Mark Canha was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right wrist. Manager Bob Melvin said he’s scheduled to have an MRI on Tuesday.
Red Sox: Manager Alex Cora said the team was sitting down with 2B Dustin Pedroia (left knee irritation) Monday night to map out a plan for his rehab stint that will likely begin Thursday at Double-A Portland. … INF Eduardo Núñez (mid-back strain) started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket Monday, going 0 for 4. … Utility INF Brock Holt (scratched right cornea) returned from his rehab assignment because of a new injury, to his right shoulder.
EMPTY BENCH
With Canha going on the IL, the Athletics had only two players on the bench — OF Robbie Grossman and C Nick Hundley.
“It makes it a little bit challenging,” Melvin said. “We’ll play with the nine guys on the field today and have one potential spot to do something different.”
Both entered during the seventh inning — Grossman pinch-hit and Hundley went in to catch.
ANNIVERSARY
Thirty-three-years ago, Boston’s Roger Clemens set a major league record, striking out 20 against Seattle. It was his first of his two 20-strikeout games. The other came 10 years later at Detroit’s Tiger Stadium.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Aaron Brooks (2-2, 5.33 ERA) is in line to start Tuesday. He went six scoreless innings versus the Red Sox on April 1.
Red Sox: RHP Rick Porcello (1-3, 7.43) got his win of the season in his previous start, when he gave up three runs in six innings.