Oakland @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 22, 2013 ) Oakland 6, Boston 9
It took about three weeks for Mike Napoli to admit how much he enjoys hitting in Fenway Park. He’ll get another shot Tuesday when the Boston Red Sox continue their three-game series with the Oakland Athletics. Following Monday’s 9-6 win over Oakland, Napoli said: ”I just love hitting here. … you can get away with some stuff that you don't necessarily have to hit it so good.” Good hits were not an issue for Napoli in the series opener as an RBI double and grand slam highlighted a five-RBI effort.
After scoring only four runs and dropping all three of its games to the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend, Oakland’s American League-leading offense began to show signs of life late Monday. Josh Donaldson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored while former Red Sox Josh Reddick added two hits and drove in two more runs. Donaldson and Reddick hit consecutive doubles in the eighth inning to help Oakland go 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position after the team combined to hit 3-for-25 in similar situations during the Tampa Bay series.
TV: 6:35 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland), New England Sports Network (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Bartolo Colon (2-0, 3.32 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Alfredo Aceves (1-0, 6.28)
Colon, who secured Oakland’s last win in Wednesday’s 7-5 victory over Houston, posted his third quality start in as many turns when he allowed one run and four hits over six innings to the Astros. The portly right-hander has not walked a batter over his last four starts – a span of 27 innings – dating back to last season. The 39-year-old Colon is 8-11 with a 3.98 ERA against the Red Sox in 26 all-time appearances – including 25 starts.
Aceves, occupying John Lackey’s spot in the rotation, held Cleveland scoreless through five innings in Wednesday’s 6-3 win over the Indians. But the right-hander failed to retire any of the four batters he faced in the sixth before departing after a season-high 106 pitches and was charged with three runs and seven hits. Aceves, who will make his first career start against the Athletics, is 3-1 with a 5.17 ERA against them in nine relief appearances.
WALK-OFFS
1. Napoli, a career .259 hitter, is batting .306 with nine homers and 29 RBIs in 29 games at Fenway Park.
2. Oakland is 11-2 against the American League West, but 1-6 against non-division opponents.
3. Boston DH David Ortiz is 6-for-46 with 15 strikeouts in his career against Colon.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Athletics 5