Nick Pivetta pitched two-hit ball in seven innings to win his fifth straight start, and the Boston Red Sox routed the Oakland Athletics 8-0 on Saturday.
Mexican Alex Verdugo had three hits and drove in a couple of runs for Boston, which won its third straight win. Trevor Story hit two doubles and made a tremendous play defensively.
Xander Bogaerts added an infield single to become the all-time leader in starts by a Red Sox shortstop.
Pivetta (5-4) looked sharp with seven strikeouts and two walks. He allowed a single runner past second base and solved the problem by forcing Seth Brown to hit a harmless line drive and retiring Chad Pinder with a fly ball.
Since losing to Baltimore on May 1, Pivetta has allowed six runs in 41 innings — a 1.32 ERA.
Paul Blackburn (5-2) lost his second straight start, allowing seven hits and four runs in four innings.
For the Red Sox, Puerto Ricans Kiké Hernández 4-1, Christian Vázquez 4-1 with a run scored and an RBI. The Dominicans Rafael Devers 4-1 with two RBIs, Franchy Cordero 3-1 with a run scored and two produced. The Mexican Verdugo 5-3 with a run scored and two RBIs.
For the Athletics, the Dominicans Ramón Laureano 4-2, Luis Barrera 3-0, Christian Pache 2-0. The Venezuelan Elvis Andrus 3-1.