As Hurricane Irene gets ready to bear down on the game set with the Oakland Athletics with a doubleheader at Fenway Park.
With the storm expected to batter the Northeast the Red Sox postponed the finale of this series on Sunday, making today's double-dip necessary.
The Athletics drew first blood in the opener, as just one day after giving up a major league record three grand slams and allowing 22 runs, their own bats came alive in a 15-5 rout.
Josh Willingham homered and knocked in four runs, Scott Sizemore blasted a two-run homer and David DeJesus had three RBI in Oakland's seventh win in 10 games.
Gio Gonzalez (11-11) lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five for the win.
Tim Wakefield (6-6) was once again denied his 200th career victory, as he allowed eight runs -- four earned -- on eight hits and two walks through four innings. He has not won since July 24 and has allowed 28 runs -- 21 earned -- over his last six starts.
"I think the biggest disappointment is I didn't get deep in the game. I've got to take my personal numbers now and throw them out the window right now," said Wakefield. "That win will eventually happen hopefully but I think the thing I pride the most is giving the club quality innings and get late in the game and not have to use the bullpen like we did tonight."
David Ortiz went 3-for-4 with a solo home run as Boston had its three-game win streak snapped. Outfielder Darnell McDonald pitched the ninth inning, allowing two runs.
"It was a bad day, man. We just got our [butts] kicked," said Ortiz. "Nothing you can do about it but come back tomorrow and fight back."
The Red Sox still hold a one-game lead over the Yankees for first place in the AL East after New York lost in Baltimore on Friday.
Heading to the hill for the Red Sox in game one will be left-hander Jon Lester, who is 13-6 with a 3.16 ERA. Lester won his second straight start on Sunday in Kansas City, as he held the Royals to a run and three hits in six innings. He also walked three batters in the victory, though.
Lester has faced the A's eight times and is 2-3 with a 4.95 ERA.
Going for the BoSox in the second game will be lefty Erik Bedard, who is still trying for his first win with the team. Acquired from Seattle at the non- waiver trade deadline, Bedard is 0-2 in four starts with the Red Sox and has pitched to a 4.09 ERA.
Bedard is 4-3 lifetime against Oakland with a 2.89 ERA in 10 starts.
The Athletics will go with righty Guillermo Moscoso, who is 6-7 with a 3.28 ERA. Moscoso was charged with a hard-luck loss on Sunday against Toronto and was terrific, as he allowed just a run and three hits in eight innings of the 1-0 setback.
"That's the thing about this game that stinks," A's catcher Kurt Suzuki said. "Guillermo pitched that good and came away with a loss. It was one of those things where you can't really explain it. It's tough.
This will be Moscoso's first-ever start against the Red Sox, but he did lose to them in relief back on June 4.
Right-hander Graham Godfrey will be recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to make the start in game two. He was 13-3 with a 2.75 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) for the River Cats this season.
Godfrey made three starts for the A's in June and was 1-1 with a 4.24 ERA.
Boston is 4-2 against the A's this season.
