Ohka got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Johnny Damon lined out to third to start. Frank Menechino struck out swinging but Jason Giambi doubled to left. Terrence Long grounded out to second to end the inning.
Shea Hillenbrand flied out to left to start the top of the second inning but Brian Daubach grounded out to first. Miguel Tejada threw a ball by Mike Lansing away for an error but Stynes struck out swinging to end the inning. Olmedo Saenz walked to start the bottom of the second but Jeremy Giambi banged into a double play. Tejada flied out to center to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the third as Nixon doubled to center to start. Everett dropped down a bunt but beat it out for a base hit. Ramirez struck out swinging but Heredia uncorked a wild pitch. Catcher Ramon Hernandez tried to throw out Nixon at third but Eric Chavez muffed the throw, allowing Nixon to score and Everett to move to third. Bichette singled to center to score Everett and increase the lead. Hatteberg flied out to left and Hillenbrand popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
The A's then pounced on Ohka in the bottom of the third as Chavez singled to center to start. Chavez stole second and moved to third on the Hernandez grounder to second. Damon singled to right to score Chavez then stole second himself. Damon took third on the passed ball and Menechino singled left to score Damon. Menechino stole second as it was plainly obvious Ohka wasn't holding runners on at all. Jason Giambi walked and both runners moved over on the Long grounder to first. Saenz walked to load the bases and Sox manager Jimy Williams wisely pulled the plug on Ohka before things could get worse. Ohkla lasted just 2 2/3 innings and allowed 2 runs before getting yanked. Derek Lowe came in and struck out Jeremy Giambi swinging with the Sox still ahead 3-2.
Heredia cruised in the top of the fourth inning as Daubach grounded out to short to start. Lansing flied out to center and Stynes grounded out to third to end the inning. Tejeda singled to center to begin the bottom of the fourth and moved to second on the Chavez fly ball to left. Tejada swiped third on the swinging strikeout by Hernandez and Damon grounded out to short to end the inning.
Nixon tried to start a rally in the top of the fifth inning as he doubled to center. Everett lined out to left but Ramirez was intentionally walked. Bichette lined out to left and Hatteberg grounded back to the mound to end the inning. The A's rallied in the bottom of the fifth although Menechino struck out swinging to start. Jason Giambi doubled to center and Terrance Long singled to right. Saenz was plunked and that was it for Lowe. Pete Schourek was tasked to get out of the mess but Jeremy Giambi grounded out to second to score his brother to tie the game. Tejada was intentionally walked to re-load the bases but Chavez made the Sox pay with a base hit to right to score Long and Saenz to give the A's the lead. Hernandez flied out to left to end the inning with the A's ahead 5-3.
Hillenbrand grounded back to the mound to begin the top of the sixth but Daubach walked to chase Heredia. TJ Mathews came in to pitch and Lansing walked to put the tying runs on. Stynes banged into a double play to end the inning. Damon flied out to right to start the bottom of the sixth but Menechino doubled to left. Jason Giambi walked but Long banged into a double play.
Mike Magnante came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Nixon struck out swinging to start. Everett popped up to first and Jeff Tam came in for Magnante. Ramirez grounded out to short to end the inning. Rod Beck came in to pour gas on the fire in the bottom of the seventh as Saenz grounded out to third to start. Jeremy Giambi hit a swinging bunt in front of the plate and Hatteberg turned and fired the ball over the unsuspecting Hillenbrand's head at third for an error. Tejada popped up to left but Chavez crushed a 2 run home run all the way to San Jose to ice the game. Hernandez grounded out to third to end the inning with the A's ahead 7-3.
Bichette singled to center to start the top of the eighth and moved to second on the Hatteberg grounder to second. Daubach popped up to short to end the inning. Beck returned for the bottom of the eighth and Damon grounded out to second to start. Menechino struck out swinging but Jason Giambi was hit with a pitch. Long singled to center but Saenz grounded out to third to end the inning.
Tam returned for the top of the ninth and Jose Offerman pinch hit for Lansing to begin. Offerman grounded out to second and Troy O'Leary pinch hit for Stynes. O'Leary grounded out to first and Nixon flied out to right to end the game. The A's had won it 7-3.
The Good:
Manny Ramirez was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.
Dante Bichette was 3 for 4 with an rbi.
The Bad:
Chris Stynes was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Troy O'Leary was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Shea Hillenbrand was 0 for 4.
Scott Hatteberg was 0 for 4 with an error.
Jose Offerman was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Tomo Ohka got lit up for 2 runs in 2 2/3 innings.
Rod Beck allowed 2 runs in 2 innings.
The Ugly:
Carl Everett was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Brian Daubach was 0 for 3 but walked.
Mike Lansing was 0 for 3 but walked.
Pete Schourek allowed 3 inherited runners to score but none of his own in 1 2/3 innings.
Final Thoughts:
The A's are a damn good team and they proved it tonight. The A's pounded every mistake the Sox pitchers made and took advantage of every second chance or clutch hit situation. The A's pitchers shut down the Sox after the third inning and it seemed like as clutch as the A's were, the Sox were the complete opposite. Hatteberg made and error and Chavez hit a 2 run homer. The Sox intentionally walked Tejada to get to Chavez and he hits the go-ahead base hit. Chavez essentially outscored the Red Sox by himself in this one. I don't know what happened to Ohka but as good as he looked in April, he was pretty bad today. The Bullpen had to toss almost 6 full innings and naturally they allowed 5 runs/ Suddenly the strength of the team that started out 12-4 has become a weakness if the pitching falls apart. Once again Lowe was charged with a loss even though Schourek couldn't limit the damage. It doesn't matter where they bring Lowe in, he just gives up runs. If the Sox rotation falters and they don't have a closer, expect the New York Yankees to leapfrog them pretty soon. The loss dropped the Sox to 17-12, a game behind the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to rebound when Paxton Crawford (2-0) takes on Barry Zito of the A's tomorrow afternoon. The game begins at 4:05 PM Eastern time at Oakland Coliseum.
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