Brent Rooker’s 30th home run powers the A’s to a 5-3 win over the slumping Red Sox

Audio By Carbonatix

BOSTON (AP) — Brent Rooker homered in a three-run first inning and J.T. Ginn limited Boston to five hits over six innings on Thursday to lead the Athletics to a 5-3 victory over the Red Sox.

The A’s started the game with four straight hits, including Rooker’s two-run shot — his 30th of the season. Ginn (4-6) allowed two runs while walking one and striking out three.

Hogan Harris pitched two innings for his fourth save.

David Hamilton and Trevor Story each hit a solo homer for Boston, which lost for the fifth time in seven games. The Red Sox entered the day tied with Seattle for the third and final AL wild-card spot; Cleveland, which beat Detroit on Thursday, was 1 1/2 games back.

Brayan Bello (11-8) allowed four runs — three earned — on five hits and two walks while striking out three in four innings.

The A's started things off with Lawrence Butler's double off the Green Monster, Rooker's home run, Nick Kurtz's double and a run-scoring single from Tyler Soderstrom. Bello recorded his first out when Jacob Wilson grounded into a fielder's choice, then JJ Bleday hit into a double play.

Rooker's homer gave the A's three players with at least 30; he joined Kurtz (32) and Shea Langeliers (30). That ties a franchise record achieved four times, the last in 2019.

The A's head to Pittsburgh, with RHP Luis Severino (6-11) scheduled to face RHP Mitch Keller (6-14) in the opener on Friday night.

The Red Sox begin a three-game series at Tampa Bay on Friday, with Garrett Crochet, Kyle Harrison and Connelly Early scheduled to pitch.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb