The Boston Red Sox go for a series split when they look for a bounce-back performance by left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez against the host Oakland Athletics on Thursday afternoon.
The A’s appeared on their way to a 3-0 lead in the four-game series when right-hander Marco Estrada, attempting to duplicate scoreless efforts by Oakland starters Aaron Brooks and Mike Fiers the previous two nights, took a 3-0 lead into the fifth inning Wednesday.
However, the Red Sox came alive offensively over the final five innings, getting a home run from Blake Swihart, two-RBI doubles from Mitch Moreland and Mookie Betts and a run-scoring triple from Andrew Benintendi to highlight a nine-hit attack in a 6-3 win.
Boston hopes the momentum carries over to the series finale against Oakland’s Brett Anderson (1-0, 0.00 ERA). The 31-year-old left-hander threw six shutout innings in a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday in his season debut.
Anderson has pitched well in 11 career starts against Boston, going 6-4 with a 3.48 ERA. No current member of the Red Sox has ever homered off Anderson.
For the fourth game in a row, the A’s will be at a distinct disadvantage on the mound in terms of salary.
Anderson got a one-year, $1.5 million deal from the A’s in the offseason. Rodriguez, meanwhile, will earn $4.3 million this season.
“We don’t think much about payroll,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said earlier in the series. “The guys who are here, basically when the game starts, don’t think about it at all. I don’t think we handicap it and go out on the field and say we’re at a disadvantage because we don’t spend as much as they do. We’re just as eager to win as they are.”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora is plenty impressed with the low-budget A’s.
“They can play defense, they can pitch, they put good at-bats (together), and they have a great bullpen,” he said. “It’s a complete team.”
The A’s have never had much success against Rodriguez. He’s compiled a 2-1 record and 2.33 ERA in four career starts against his Thursday opponent, including a 1-0 record and 1.69 ERA in two starts at Oakland.
Rodriguez (0-1, 10.38 ERA) has yielded home runs to Chad Pinder, Stephen Piscotty and Kendrys Morales, though Morales did so while playing for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Rodriguez, 25, got roughed up by Seattle on the road in his season debut on Saturday, allowing all six Mariners runs (five earned) in a 6-5 loss. He surrendered eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.
One of the low-priced A’s who surely has impressed Cora in the series is center fielder Ramon Laureano, who has homered twice and thrown out two Red Sox baserunners in the first three games.
Laureano also appeared to have driven in a go-ahead run in the eighth inning Wednesday, called safe at first on a grounder to deep shortstop as Marcus Semien dashed home with a run that went on the scoreboard for a 4-3 Oakland lead.
With Oakland All-Star closer Blake Treinen ready to work on a fourth save, the Red Sox challenged the call and got a reversal on review, taking the run off the board and sending the game to the ninth tied at 3-3.
Melvin then opted to pitch Fernando Rodney in the ninth, and the Red Sox rallied for their three difference-making runs.