Mitch Moreland helps lead the Red Sox to a 12-3 win over the A’s, avoiding a four-game sweep in Oakland. Moreland homered and had two RBI.
Oakland, Calif. — A five-run ninth inning for the Red Sox that lasted more than a half-hour derailed any chance Eduardo Rodriguez had of getting his first career complete game.
Not that the left-hander was complaining.
After a bitter loss to Oakland a year ago when he allowed just one hit over eight innings, Rodriguez was more than happy with the way things turned out.
Rodriguez earned his second straight win, Mitch Moreland homered in his third consecutive game and Boston beat the Oakland Athletics 12-3 on Sunday to avoid a fourgame sweep.
"I wanted to go back out there but they hit the ball pretty good in that inning and I know I had to get out of the game," Rodriguez said about the long wait. "I'll take it because we score more runs, I have a chance to win. If every inning's like that, I'll get out of the game after five."
Rodriguez (3-1) allowed three runs over eight innings. He struck out eight, walked one and retired 14 of his final 15 batters.
"Where he was with the pitch count, it'd be nice for him to go out there for the ninth inning given where he was and how well he was throwing the baseball," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "But at that point you're up nine, probably about a 35-minute inning, didn't want to take any chances."
Hanley Ramirez and Christian Vazquez had three hits apiece to power a Red Sox lineup that tallied 15 hits. Every player in Boston's starting lineup had at least one hit, and eight of the nine drove in runs.
Chad Pinder homered and drove in two runs for Oakland.
Boston, which hasn't been swept in a four-game series since July 2015, trailed 3-2 before scoring 10 runs over the final five innings.
Trainer's room
Red Sox: Brock Holt continues to deal with lingering symptoms from vertigo and isn't yet ready to come off the disabled list, according to Farrell. Likewise, Boston plans to keep third baseman Pablo Sandoval in the minors to get consistent atbats while recovering from a right knee sprain . ... Farrell said LHP Drew Pomeranz, who took the loss Saturday, will start against Texas on Thursday.
Up next
Red Sox: Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello (2-5) faces Texas on Tuesday in the opener of a threegame series at Fenway Park. Porcello has lost three of his last four decisions.
Athletics: Following an off day, RHP Jesse Hahn (1-3) starts against Miami on Tuesday at the Coliseum. Groton's Hahn leads the majors in fewest home runs allowed per nine innings at 0.19.