Oakland, CA (Sports Network) – J.D. Drew finished 3-for-3 and knocked in two runs as Boston rallied past Oakland, 5-3, in the final contest of three between the clubs.
Ryan Kalish added a pinch-hit, two-run single for the Red Sox, who avoided a sweep.
Josh Beckett (5-4) earned the win by allowing three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts over six innings.
Mark Ellis collected two hits and drove in a pair for the Athletics, whose three-game win streak was snapped.
Dallas Braden (9-12) worked 5 2/3 innings in defeat, charged with six hits and four runs with four walks.
Ahead by just one, the Red Sox posted an insurance run in the eighth. Adrian Beltre singled off Michael Wuertz then Jerry Blevins entered and walked Mike Lowell with one out. Drew then singled, but Blevins threw the ball away and Beltre came home.
Scott Atchison turned in his second straight scoreless frame in the eighth then Jonathan Papelbon retired the side in order in the ninth for his 36th save.
Beckett struggled with control throughout, walking five batters. Oakland picked up a run in the third with patient at-bats as Coco Crisp, Daric Barton and Kurt Suzuki all drew bases on balls before a walk to Jack Cust forced in a run.
The A’s tacked on two more in the fifth as Barton singled, Suzuki was plunked and Ellis scored both with a double.
Boston countered with a four-run sixth. Beltre doubled with two outs, then David Ortiz singled and Lowell walked to load the sacks. Henry Rodriguez came on for Braden but allowed a two-run double from Drew. Kalish then stroked a two-run pinch-hit single to give the Sox a one-run edge.
Oakland won five of the nine games in the season series, including four of six in California, taking the season slate over Boston for the first time since 2006…Ellis extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games…The Red Sox avoided being swept by the A’s for the first time since May 23-25, 2008…Both clubs are in action on Monday as the BoSox finish their road trip in Seattle and the Athletics begin a road swing at Kansas City.