Stinky Sox! Boston loses again, falls to 2-6

OAKLAND, Calif. — Center fielder Ramon Laureano threw out another Red Sox runner in a key spot, and the Oakland Athletics kept Boston stumbling with a 7-3 win on Thursday.

Laureano tossed out three runners as the A's took three of four in the series. Stephen Piscotty went 4 for 4 with a home run, double and five RBIs to help Oakland win for the fifth time in six games.

The Red Sox fell to 2-6, the worst start for a defending World Series champion since the stripped-down Marlins struggled in 1998. J.D. Martinez homered for Boston.

Mookie Betts led off the Red Sox ninth inning with a walk and tried to take third when Andrew Benintendi followed with a bloop single. But Laureano charged the ball hard and threw on the run to catch Betts, with the out call being upheld on replay.

INDIANS 4, BLUE JAYS 1

CLEVELAND — Trevor Bauer was pulled by manager Terry Francona after seven hitless innings and 117 pitches, and watched from the dugout as Toronto's Freddy Galvis broke up Cleveland's bid for a combined no-hitter with a leadoff single in the ninth inning.

Bauer was attempting to throw Cleveland's first no-hitter in 38 years — on the 25th anniversary of Progressive Field's opening — but was taken out as his pitch count increased.

BRAVES 9, CUBS 4

ATLANTA — Max Fried took a perfect game into the sixth inning, Nick Markakis drive in five runs with five hits that included three doubles and the Atlanta Braves beat Yu Darvish and the Cubs for a three-game sweep.

PIRATES 2, REDS 0

PITTSBURGH — Jordan Lyles pitched five effective innings in his Pittsburgh debut and the Pirates shut out Cincinnati.

TIGERS 5, ROYALS 4

DETROIT — Spencer Turnbull struck out 10 in six innings, and Detroit drew four straight walks to start the bottom of the seventh, taking the lead for good in their victory over Kansas City.

Josh Harrison stole two bases and scored three times for the Tigers in their home opener.