Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin is already starting to run out of superlatives to describe Scott Kazmir.
The right-hander has been so effective in his first season with Oakland that Melvin might need to break out a thesaurus when talking about the veteran pitcher.
“It’s a broken record talking about him because we’re seeing basically the same game out of him,” Melvin said. “I had heard last year maybe this is a 100-pitch guy top, six innings maybe. He’s been anything but. He’s been absolutely terrific.”
Kazmir (9-2) went into the game with the second-lowest ERA among qualifiers in the AL and extended his streak to 18.1 innings without allowing an earned run before Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run home run in the sixth. He struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter.
Over his past five starts, Oakland’s right-hander is 4-0 with a 1.27 ERA.
Stephen Vogt had two hits and two RBIs, Jed Lowrie scored twice and John Jaso singled in an insurance run in the seventh to move the A’s a season-high 17 games over .500. It’s the best record in the majors and continued Oakland’s best start since 1990.
Cespedes had not homered against the Red Sox until his two-out, solo shot off Jake Peavy in the third.
Boston had played five straight one-run games heading into the series opener with Oakland. This one was tight as well.
The A’s led 3-0 after Vogt’s single scored Lowrie in the fourth.
Kazmir, who hasn’t lost since May 23, took a shutout into the sixth that Pedroia ended with a two-out home run.
It was the only mistake Kazmir made.
Luke Gregerson pitched the eighth and Dan Otero worked the ninth for his first career save.
Peavy (1-5) had a second straight strong outing but remained winless over his past 10 starts. Peavy allowed five hits over 6.1 innings, retired eight of the final nine batters he faced and struck out four with three walks.
It wasn’t enough to prevent the Red Sox from ending their three-game winning streak
• Who: Boston Red Sox at
Oakland Athletics.
• Where: Oakland Coliseum. • When: 10:05 p.m.
tonight.
• Starting pitchers:
Boston (Felix Doubront 2-
4) vs. Oakland (Brad Mills
0-0).
• TV: NESN.
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