Nick Pivetta teamed up with four relief pitchers to secure Boston’s second shutout of the series. Enmanuel Valdéz’s sacrifice fly in the fourth inning helped the Red Sox clinch a 1-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, completing a three-game sweep.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora expressed satisfaction with the team’s ability to win tight games like this one. Despite previous challenges in Oakland, the Red Sox managed to sweep the series, marking a positive step forward.
The Athletics, facing struggles, attracted a crowd of 6,436 for the final game of their home series, where they went 1-6. Their poor performance has led them to have the worst run difference in the American League, currently standing at minus-29. Over the seven games, a total of 45,068 fans attended.
With uncertainties surrounding the A’s future venue plans, they face challenges beyond their on-field performance. Jarren Duran’s impressive 4-for-4 performance raised his batting average to .393, highlighting his contribution to the Red Sox’s success.
Ross Stripling, pitching for the Athletics, endured a tough outing, giving up eight hits in seven innings and extending his losing streak to seven consecutive decisions.
Pivetta, the winning pitcher, delivered a solid performance before handing the ball to the bullpen. The Red Sox relievers continued their excellent form, maintaining a scoreless streak of 17 innings. Despite the A’s improved at-bats, they were unable to capitalize against the dominant Red Sox bullpen.
A series of singles by Triston Casas, Masataka Yoshida, and Ceddanne Rafaela set the stage for Valdéz’s crucial sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, securing the lone run of the game.
