BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox snapped a three-game losing streak and avoided a three-game series sweep with their 8-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics Thursday night at Fenway Park. The win boosted Boston’s record to 11-8 at home since being swept and starting the season 0-3 vs. the Baltimore Orioles.

Sox starter Garrett Richards went 6.0 innings, and allowed five hits, three walks while striking out four A’s. He reduced his ERA to 3.89 this season (18 ER/41.2 IP), and ranks as the second-lowest among Red Sox starters. Richards is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA (6 ER/25.0 IP) in his last four starts.

Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts broke out a mini-slump and went 3-for-3, with a run scored, a home run, double and three RBI. Bogaerts hit a two-run HR in the 1st inning, an RBI double in the 2nd, and singled in the 4th inning and now leads the majors in hits (49).

Boston 1B Bobby Dalbec went 2-for-4, with a home run as he hit a two-run blast to center field off Athletics’ starter Sean Manaea in the 2nd inning. Dalbec is batting .351 with an .990 OPS vs. lefties in 2021 (13-for-37, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, BB).

Manaea went only 2.0 innings, allowed 10 hits and seven runs, with three runs in the 1st and 2nd innings. The game marked the first time Manaea allowed three or more  runs in multiple innings of a start as he set season-lows with 2.0 innings pitched and season highs in runs (7) and hits (10).

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