OAKLAND, Calif. — Rick Porcello didn’t allow a baserunner until Jake Smolinski’s one-out double in the sixth inning on the way to his majors-leading 19th victory, and the Boston Red Sox routed the Oakland Athletics again with an 11-2 victory Saturday night.
The Red Sox moved into a tie with Toronto for first place in the AL East.
David Ortiz hit a two-run double to highlight Boston’s seven-run third to chants of “Pa-pi! Pa-pi!” for the retiring slugger in his last visit to Oakland.
Yoan Moncada had a run-scoring double later in the inning for his first career hit and RBI. He made his first start a day after making his major league debut in a 16-2 victory.
Hanley Ramirez added a home run in the third, his fourth in seven games.
Porcello (19-3) gave up four hits and two runs in seven innings, struck out two and didn’t walk a batter. Boston improved to 21-7 in Porcello’s starts and 13-2 in his last 15. The Red Sox scored 11 or more runs against the A’s in their fifth straight game, a night after matching their season high with 16 runs.
Mookie Betts hit a two-run double in the first following Ortiz’s first double that moved Dustin Pedroia to third. Betts joined Ted Williams as the only Red Sox with at least 30 home runs with 100 or more RBI in a season before turning 24.
Ortiz had three more hits and is 5 for 6 with five RBI this series. He moved within one RBI of the AL lead behind Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion (108). Ortiz also needs to drive in one more run to tie Dave Winfield for most RBI by a player 40 or older. A 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer, Winfield drove in 108 runs for Toronto in 1992.
Right-hander Daniel Mengden (1-6), called up from Triple-A Nashville, allowed seven runs and eight hits in just 22/3 innings.
NOTES: Red Sox right-hander Koji Uehara, on the disabled list since July 20 because of a right pectoral strain, threw 26 pitches and could be activated during the team’s upcoming series in San Diego beginning Monday. “The way he’s advanced the last 10 days has been encouraging,” Manager John Farrell said. …Right-hander Steven Wright will seek a second opinion on his injured throwing shoulder and won’t start Tuesday. Right-hander Clay Buchholz will be called upon to pitch against the Padres in his place.… Outfielder Andrew Benintendi (left knee sprain) was running the bases again but is not ready to take swings. … After the game, the Red Sox announced that pitchers Heath Hembree and Noe Ramirez and catcher Christian Vazquez would join the team Monday in San Diego. … Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (2-6, 5.35 ERA), who will start Sunday, has allowed three or fewer runs in seven of his eight outings since the All-Star break and has a 3.22 ERA with 40 strikeouts to 16 walks. Right-hander Kendall Graveman (10-9, 3.96), who will start for Oakland, seeks his first career decision against the Red Sox in his third appearance. After beginning 1-6 over his initial nine starts, Graveman is 9-3.
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