Athletics at Red Sox
It took until the final day of April for the Boston Red Sox to post their first series win at Fenway Park and now the defending World Series can complete a three-game sweep when they host the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday afternoon. Boston scored only nine runs in losing three of four to Oakland early this month but have outscored the A's 14-5 in the past two nights.
Reigning American League MVP Mookie Betts is 5-for-8 in the series for the Red Sox, homering and collecting multiple hits for the eighth time in 11 games in Tuesday's 5-1 victory. Mitch Moreland swatted a two-run homer -- his team-high eighth -- as Boston improved to .500 at Fenway and 4-4 entering the finale of its nine-game homestand. Robbie Grossman's ninth-inning homer prevented a shutout for the Athletics, who mustered only three hits Tuesday in falling to 0-5 on their nine-game road trip. Right-hander Mike Fiers already beat the Red Sox this season and will try to prevent a series sweep for Oakland, which is 4-10 away from home.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS California (Oakland), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Mike Fiers (2-2, 7.03 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Hector Velazquez (0-2, 3.86)
Fiers is winless over his last four starts despite a strong effort last time out, when he had to settle for a no-decision despite limiting Toronto to two runs and six hits over seven innings. He was rocked in each of his previous three turns but escaped with two no-decisions after getting tagged for 18 runs and five homers. J.D. Martinez is 8-for-17 with a pair of homers off Fiers, who improved to 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA against Boston with six scoreless innings on April 2.
Elevated into the rotation following an injury to Nathan Eovaldi, Velazquez has lost each of his first two starts, yielding three runs over 3 1/3 innings to Detroit on April 23 and one run on two hits in three innings against Baltimore on April 15. He pitched in relief Monday night and loaded the bases on 13 pitches, giving up a hit and walking a pair of batters. Velazquez also faced the Athletics in Oakland on April 4 and was charged with one run in 4 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Betts joined Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky and Nomar Garciaparra as Boston's only players to score 500 runs in their first 700 games.
2. Athletics 1B/DH Khris Davis is homerless in 14 games after hitting 10 in his first 17.
3. Red Sox rookie 2B Michael Chavis is 6-for-12 with a homer and four RBIs during a three-game hitting streak.