OAKLAND, Calif. – Matt Watson’s baseball journey has taken him to Japan, South Korea, and all over the minors and independent leagues since making his big-league debut with the New York Mets.
Nearly seven years later, Watson hit his first major league homer Wednesday to help the Oakland Athletics win their third straight series with a 6-4 victory against the Boston Red Sox.
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“I enjoyed it,” Watson said. “It was nice to finally get one. I’d like to count some of my Asian ones as major league home runs but I don’t think they count in the record book.”
Watson came up to the big leagues with the Mets in September 2003 and appeared in 15 games. He was claimed by the A’s on waivers that offseason and spent most of the next two years at Triple-A, playing 19 games in the majors.
Watson had his contract sold to Chiba Lotte in Japan in 2006 and hit nine homers in parts of two seasons. He spent 2008 in the minors with the Toronto organization, played briefly in South Korea that offseason and returned to the Mets in 2009.
Let go because of a bad back, Watson played for Lancaster of the independent Atlantic League before the A’s brought him back on a minor league deal in May.
“The fact he’s here and did a great job today is what counts,” A’s starter Gio Gonzalez said. “The road is a beautiful road when you’re sitting on the major league level. To hit his first major league home run, it’s a beautiful day for Matt Watson.”
Gonzalez (9-6) pitched six innings for the win, Jack Cust homered and Rajai Davis hit a two-run single for the A’s, who have won 7 of 8 to go above .500 for the first time since June 11.
“We’re pointing in the right direction,” Gonzalez said. “We have a little streak going on again. We’re going to try to keep it going.”
The Red Sox are going in the opposite direction despite getting Adrian Beltre’s second homer of the series. They are 2-5 since the All-Star break and seven games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East.
Clay Buchholz (10-5) wasn’t sharp in his first start for Boston since injuring his left hamstring running the bases June 26 in San Francisco. He gave up a pair of early homers and was unable to record an out in the fifth. He allowed five runs and six hits to lose for just the second time in his last 10 starts.
“I thought he looked like he had some rust,” Manager Terry Francona said. “He left a couple of fastballs over the plate that really did a lot of damage. The game was a little quick for him. He’ll be OK. He’s healthy.”
Gonzalez allowed RBI singles to Beltre in the first and Jed Lowrie in the fifth before running into more serious trouble in the sixth. Kevin Youkilis led off with a single and Beltre followed with his 16th homer.
After J.D. Drew singled, Oakland’s defense bailed out Gonzalez. Davis made a running grab in the gap in right-center to rob Mike Cameron of extra bases. Bill Hall then hit a grounder up the middle that second baseman Mark Ellis tracked down to start a slick double play.
“It’s pretty frustrating,” Hall said. “We hit it right at people. We have to start pressuring teams earlier. We’re not swinging the bat too bad but we’re not putting hits together. Pressing is not the answer .”
That ended the day for Gonzalez, who allowed four runs and seven hits.
Henry Rodriguez pitched around two walks in the seventh. Brad Ziegler got three outs and Michael Wuertz had a perfect ninth for his second save.
Buchholz escaped trouble in the first when he got Kevin Kouzmanoff to bounce into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. But then Buchholz gave up homers in consecutive innings to the power-challenged A’s after allowing just three all season.
Watson connected in the second for a solo shot in just his third game since being brought back to the majors July 5. With Ryan Sweeney out for the season with a knee injury, there could be more chances for Watson to play.
“I know I can do it at this level if given an opportunity,” he said. “It’s just finding a chance and someone that believes in you to give you the opportunity.”
THE RED SOX activated Buchholz and infielder Lowrie from the disabled list before the game. Lowrie made his season debut after being sidelined by mononucleosis.
Boston optioned left-hander Dustin Richardson to Triple-A Pawtucket and designated first baseman Ryan Shealy for assignment to make room on the roster.
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