Boston @ Oakland preview
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Jul 12, 2013 ) Boston 4, Oakland 2
Jon Lester will attempt to finish a rocky first half on a positive note Saturday when he leads the Boston Red Sox into the second of a three-game series against the Athletics in Oakland. Lester, a two-time All-Star, is limping into the break with only two quality starts in his last 10 outings. He is also coming off a rough performance in which he was charged with five runs in five innings in an 11-4 loss at Seattle on Monday.
The Sox have rebounded to win four straight since that setback, including a 4-2 victory in the series opener Friday. John Lackey stayed hot with seven strong innings and Dustin Pedroia delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth as Boston recorded its 58th win to set a team mark for victories before the All-Star break. The Athletics dropped their second straight game and had a six-game winning streak at home against the Red Sox snapped.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NESN (Boston), CSN California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (8-5, 4.60 ERA) vs. Athletics RH A.J. Griffin (7-6, 3.94)
Lester got the win against Oakland at home April 24, part of a 6-0 start for the 29-year-old. However, he walked six and allowed six hits in 5 2/3 innings and since improving to 6-0 a few starts later, Lester is 2-5 with a 6.49 ERA. He is 4-3 with a 4.21 ERA in 11 career starts versus the Athletics.
Griffin was pounded by the Red Sox in his shortest start of the season April 22 at Boston when he gave up a career-high nine runs (seven earned) and eight hits in four innings of a 9-6 loss. The 25-year-old's second-shortest start came Sunday at Kansas City when he allowed two runs in five innings to pick up the victory. Griffin has allowed seven home runs in his last six starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Newly acquired LHP Matt Thornton is expected to join the Red Sox on Saturday.
2. Boston closer RHP Koji Uehara has nine strikeouts and has not allowed an earned run in 6 1/3 innings this month.
3. Oakland is 37-19 in night games this year and 23-10 against the Sox at home since 2006.
PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Red Sox 4