BOSTON – Jarrod Parker scattered four hits over 6 2-3 innings and picked up his first major league win as the Oakland Athletics stopped a three-game losing streak by beating the Boston Red Sox 5-3 on Tuesday night.
Jemile Weeks ended on 0-for-12 slump with a leadoff single and finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored for the A's, who evened the three-game series at 1-all on a frigid night at Fenway Park.
Oakland scored the first five runs and provided plenty of security for Parker (1-0), who was making just his third start in the majors.
Parker was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento last Wednesday and got a no-decision against Chicago that night. He took the mound again Tuesday and shut down a Boston lineup that racked up 11 runs on 11 hits the night before. Parker struck out four, walked two and hit a batter before getting pulled in the seventh inning.
Boston starter Felix Doubront (1-1) wasn't nearly as effective. The left-hander threw 30 pitches in the first inning alone and struggled through four innings. He struck out eight, but also allowed six hits, walked two and threw two wild pitches while allowing five runs.
The Red Sox had just four hits until Cody Ross led off the ninth with a double to left off of Grant Balfour. Marlon Byrd singled with one out, Punto walked to load the bases for Mike Aviles, who lined a single to center and cut Oakland's lead to 5-3.
Jordan Norberto came in for Oakland and got the save, striking out Lars Anderson and getting Dustin Pedroia to ground out to second.
David Ortiz, who was hitting .543 at home, went 0-for-4 and saw his average drop from .405 to .386.
Pedroia was the only player to score on Parker. He led off the fourth with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came home on back-to-back fielder's choices to cut Oakland's lead to 5-1.
Parker started to struggle in the seventh when Ross led off with a double down the left field line and Punto drew a two-out walk. Parker was pulled for reliever Brian Fuentes, who got out of the jam on a nice defensive play by third baseman Brandon Inge. Mike Aviles hit a sharp grounder, which Inge lunged to get then scrambled to his feet in time to dive in front of the bag and tag out Ross.
The A's got to Doubront for four runs in the fourth. Kurt Suzuki singled with one out, Kila Ka'aihue walked and Cliff Pennington drove in Suzuki with a double. Weeks followed with a long single that scored Ka'aihue and Pennington. Weeks took second when the throw to the plate wasn't in time to catch Pennington, stole third and trotted home on a wild pitch to put the A's up 5-0.
Notes: A cold, steady rain fell throughout the day in Boston and the Fenway Park organist was playing "Let the Sun Shine" about an hour before gametime as the rain continued to fall on the tarp covering the infield. ... Because of the rain, neither team took batting practice. ... Oakland manager Bob Melvin said he thought Weeks' offensive struggles may have contributed to his defensive play, including a costly error in Boston's 11-6 win Monday night. "When you're not playing and swinging the bat to your ability sometimes you go out there and that frustration just comes out there with you in the field." ... Melvin put Ka'aihue at first base so he could face the left-handed Doubront. ... Boston recalled SS Jose Iglesias and sent RHP Junichi Tazawa to Triple-A Pawtucket earlier Tuesday. ... 3B Kevin Youkilis was scratched from the lineup for the third straight game with stiffness in his back.
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