Red Sox-A's preview
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Boston Red Sox will be looking to gain ground on the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East when they begin a nine-game trip against one of the AL's weakest teams, the Oakland Athletics, on Friday night.
Boston (74-59) begins the trip two games back of the Blue Jays (76-57) in the East.
The Red Sox end the trip with three in Toronto. But before then, they get an opportunity to fatten up their record against the last-place team in the AL West (the A's) and the last-place team in the National League West (the San Diego Padres).
Red Sox ace David Price will begin and is expected to end that six-game stretch.
Price has gone 3-2 with a 3.21 ERA in eight career starts against the A's. He's never faced the Padres.
When the left-hander takes the mound for the bottom of the first Friday, he could have a new third baseman over his right shoulder.
Prize prospect Yoan Moncada was among the players the Red Sox added when rosters were expanded to 40 players Thursday.
"Our teams that have had success have always had an injection of young players during the season that have helped carry the team to the postseason," Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters Wednesday. "I think Yoan would be in that similar category."
Boston's only trip to Oakland and San Diego, of course, means each team's fan base will get an opportunity to say good-bye to retiring slugger David Ortiz.
The fan favorite has never given Red Sox followers in the San Francisco Bay Area much to cheer about.
His .271 career average versus the A's is his second-lowest among all opponents against which he's played 100 or more games. Only Baltimore (.268) has limited him to a lower average.
And his 23 home runs against Oakland is his second-fewest (100 or more games). Only Kansas City (21) has held him to fewer.
Ortiz will take his cracks in this series against three of the A's young starters -- Andrew Triggs, Zach Neal and Kendall Graveman. He's faced them only five times in his career, going hitless (0-for-3) with two walks.
Ortiz has never homered against any of Oakland's current pitchers, going 4-for-18 (.222).
Triggs recorded his first career win in his last outing, Sunday at St. Louis. He struck out eight Cardinals in six innings, allowing three runs on four hits in the 7-4 win.
His previous start was even better. He shut out the Cleveland Indians over six innings, striking out six, but didn't get a decision in what turned out to be a 1-0 loss.
The win over the Cardinals came within driving distance of his hometown of Nashville, Tenn., so he was able to celebrate the big day with family and friends.
"To pitch as well as he has, and work himself into the rotation," A's manager Bob Melvin said after the game, "it's very rewarding to get him a win."
The A's will be playing their 10th consecutive game against playoff contenders Friday. They've gone a respectable 4-5 in the first nine, winning series against the Cardinals and Indians.
