Oakland @ Boston preview

Oakland at Boston

Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2012 ) Boston 2, Oakland 6

The Oakland Athletics found little resistance away from home earlier this month, but saw their American League-leading offense go in the tank on their second road trip. They’ll attempt to break out of their offensive funk Monday when they travel to Boston to meet the Red Sox for the first of three games. The Athletics outscored opponents 51-20 and won their first six away from home, but mustered only four runs while dropping their next three road games to the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend.

After recording their seventh straight win on Saturday in their first home game since the Boston Marathon bombings five days earlier, the Red Sox were swept by the Kansas City Royals in a day-night doubleheader on Sunday. Ryan Dempster allowed four runs in the first game, ending the Red Sox’s impressive 16-game streak in which their starting pitcher allowed three runs or fewer – tying an AL record set by Oakland 1978 and 1981.

TV: 6:35 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland), New England Sports Network (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH A.J. Griffin (2-0, 2.35 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (1-0, 4.50)

Oakland has won each of Griffin’s seven last starts (postseason included), and the 25-year-old right-hander turned in his third quality start in as many tries in Tuesday’s 4-3 win over Houston. The University of San Diego alum was stuck with a no-decision despite permitting two runs and four hits over six innings, although he did walk a career-high four batters. Griffin has been sharp in two career outings against the Red Sox, going 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 0.69 WHIP while holding Boston hitters to a .152 average.

Although the Red Sox have won both of his outings, Doubront hasn’t been overly effective or efficient, needing at least 90 pitches to get through five innings. With 10 days of rest between starts, he picked up the victory in Tuesday’s 7-2 win over Cleveland, allowing two runs on four hits over five frames. Opposing hitters are batting .325 against him in 2013 and no American League team has given him more trouble throughout his career than Oakland (0-2 with a 12.86 ERA in two starts).

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland claimed eight of its nine meetings with Boston last season, outscoring the Red Sox 60-26.

2. Dustin Pedroia has reached base in all 18 games, the most consecutive games to start a season by a Red Sox second baseman.

3. The Athletics entered the Tampa Bay series batting .303 with runners in scoring position, but managed to go 3-for-25 against the Rays.

PREDICTION: Athletics 6, Red Sox 4