Game 33: Athletics at Red Sox - Can Boston offense rock rookie Manaea?






Ben Whitehead
Contributing writer

Jackie Bradley Jr. is scorching hot. That's great news for the Boston Red Sox, who night in and night out seem to find a new face to deliver positive results. Monday evening, when Clay Buchholz was, well, Clay Buchholz, the Red Sox (19-13) offense exploded for 14 runs, six driven in off the bat of Bradley. The outfield sensation extended his hitting streak to 15 games and notched his first career grand slam.

But that game is over and it's 0-0 against the Oakland Athletics to start tonight. With that in mind, Sean O'Sullivan will make his first start in a Boston uniform. O'Sullivan made his Red Sox debut in Saturday's loss at New York. He pitched one inning and allowed one run on two hits while recording a strikeout. For his career, O'Sullivan has a 5.96 ERA over 67 appearances (52 starts).

Another Sean will take the mound, as rookie Sean Manaea goes for Oakland (14-19). Manaea is making just his third Major League start. The first two haven't gone as he'd hoped, though. Manaea has a 7.20 ERA and has allowed 11 hits with eight runs, five walks and nine strikeouts in 10 innings.

Here is the Red Sox lineup (first pitch 7:10 pm EDT):

1. Mookie Betts, RF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Xander Bogaerts, SS
4. Hanley Ramirez, DH
5. Chris Young, LF
6. Josh Rutledge, 3B
7. Travis Shaw, 1B
8. Ryan Hanigan, C
9. Jackie Bradley Jr., CF

P Sean O'Sullivan (0-0, 9.00 ERA)

RSL Notes

Lineup changes

With a lefty (Manaea) on the mound, Red Sox manager John Farrell has shuffled the lineup a bit to get more right-handed bats in there. David Ortiz is taking the night off, shifting Hanley Ramirez to DH. Lefty Travis Shaw drops a little in the lineup, while righties Chris Young and Josh Rutledge slot in at the fifth and sixth spot.

Bombs away
Bradley wasn't the only Sox player to homer Monday. Brock Holt hit a two-run shot in the fifth that extended the Boston lead to 9-4. That was Holt's third home run this season.

Double trouble
The Red Sox hit six doubles, including two each from Ortiz and Shaw. Boston has twice hit seven doubles in a game this season, most recently in Atlanta during an 11-4 win.