G59: Red Sox 6, Athletics 3

Athletics - 001 101 000 - 3  5  0
Red Sox   - 030 201 00x - 6 12  0

Lackey (5.2-3-3-2-2, 93) did his job, Carl Crawford hit a three-run bomb (#5) in the second, Adrian Gonzalez followed with a two-run dong (#12) in the fourth, and David Ortiz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia both went 3-for-4 as the Red Sox swept a three-game series from the A's.

To close it out, Dan Wheeler (eighth inning) and Daniel Bard (ninth) set the A's down in order on only seven and eight pitches, respectively.

In his first three at-bats, Ortiz singled, doubled, and singled. He led off the seventh with a drive deep into the triangle that Coco Crisp, after a very long sprint, snagged with his glove stretched out in front of him. That catch robbed Flo of his first four-hit game since late 2007. It also kept alive a streak that Gary Marbry mentioned in his recent Nuggetpalooza column.

On September 27, 2007, Ortiz went 4-for-4. It was the 12th time in his career he had at least four hits in a game; he has yet to do it a 13th time. Today was his 296th consecutive game in which he had at least four at-bats without getting four hits. It's only two games shy of Rico Petrocelli's Red Sox record of 298 games (1967-1970). Arcane data of this type goes back only to 1950. Brooks Robinson of the Orioles holds the MLB record (558 games, 1965-1970).

Brett Anderson / John Lackey

Lackey (8.01 ERA) returns from the disabled list and makes his eighth start of the season.

In his two starts before being sidelined with a right elbow strain, the Blame Thrower allowed 17 runs, 19 hits, and eight walks in only 10.2 innings; opposing baserunners also stole seven bases in eight attempts. Lackey made one rehab start for Pawtucket, giving up one run in 5.1 innings. His pitch limit today will be approximately 90.

In his last start (May 31), Anderson allowed 10 runs and 11 hits in 5.1 innings to the Yankees. ... He threw eight shutout innings against the Red Sox back on April 19 in Oakland. (Did you know that the actual name of the A's home park is now "Overstock.com Coliseum"?)

AL East: Yankees/Angels at 3:30 PM and Rays/Mariners at 4 PM.