Athletics at Red Sox
Sean Manaea didn't have fond memories of the Boston Red Sox after getting battered in his three previous starts before flipping the script with a no-hitter in a 3-0 gem on April 21. The 26-year-old left-hander hopes his newfound success against the Red Sox carries over to Monday when the Oakland Athletics continue their 10-game road trip with the opener of a three-game set.
Manaea's no-hitter did not come without controversy as Andrew Benintendi was ruled out for venturing wide of the baseline on an apparent two-out single in the sixth inning. The 23-year-old Benintendi is riding a six-game hitting streak and fellow outfielder Mookie Betts has multi-hit performances in six of his last 11 contests following Sunday's 5-3 victory over Toronto. While Boston (28-12) won three of four against the Blue Jays to wrap up a 6-4 road trip, Oakland (19-21) has dropped five of six after dropping the rubber match of a three-game series to the New York Yankees. Jed Lowrie, who had an RBI single in Sunday's 6-2 setback, went 5-for-13 with three doubles and two RBIs against his former team in the first series on April 20-22.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Sean Manaea (4-4, 2.11 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (5-0, 2.79)
Manaea answered the 12th no-hitter in Athletics' franchise history with a one-run performance over seven innings against Houston to pick up his third straight win on April 27. Back-to-back four-run outings have ensued for the left-hander, who has seen his ERA elevate from 1.03 to 2.11. Betts has homered twice among his four hits versus Manaea, while Xander Bogaerts is 4-for-7, but the hurler sports a 2-2 career mark against Boston despite being saddled with a 7.52 ERA.
Porcello received his third no-decision in four outings on Wednesday despite surrendering season-high totals in runs (five) and hits (eight) in 5 1/3 innings against the Yankees. The 2016 American League Cy Young Award winner also permitted three walks for the second time in four trips to the mound after issuing just one free pass in his previous four starts. Lowrie is 3-for-5 in his career versus Porcello, but the 29-year-old right-hander has flustered Marcus Semien (0-for-12, four strikeouts) en route to posting a 6-5 mark in 14 appearances against the Athletics.
WALK-OFFS
1. Boston OF J.D. Martinez, who homered and drove in three runs in Sunday's series finale, went 0-for-7 with five strikeouts in two games versus Oakland this season.
2. Semien has recorded multi-hit performances in three straight games overall and two of the three versus the Red Sox last month.
3. Boston 2B Eduardo Nunez carries a six-game hitting streak into the series versus Oakland, against which he had three hits in a 7-3 win on April 20.