Pomeranz wins duel with Olson
BOSTON — Drew Pomeranz, facing his former team, knew it was likely the last batter he’d face. He figured he had to make one of his best pitches.
Pomeranz threw six innings of one-run ball, finishing by striking out Matt Olson with the bases loaded to lead the AL East-leading Red Sox past the A’s 6-2 on Thursday.
With two outs, a full count and the game tied 1-1, Pomeranz got Olson swinging on a high, 92 mph fastball.
“In that big situation, making a big pitch is a huge deal when you can wiggle your way out of a jam,” Pomeranz said. “He wasn’t chasing the curveball. I got 3-2 on him and I gave all that I have left to make one good pitch and he swung. Luckily, he missed it and that’s what I wanted.”
The added reward was that the Red Sox took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the inning, setting up Pomeranz — who pitched for the A’s in 2014 and ’15 — for the win.
“Another quality start on his part,” Boston manager John Farrell said. “There (were) a number of big moments in this game and for Drew himself, probably the last pitch he threw today, the strikeout to Olson, that was going to be his last pitch of the day.”
Ryon Healy hit a solo homer for the A’s, who fell for just the second time in eight games. The loss assured Oakland (64-82) of a losing record for the third straight season.
“We had some opportunities, and we had a couple baserunning mistakes early in the game that cost us,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said.
Chad Pinder was cut down on the bases in the third and Mark Canha in the fifth — both on cutoff plays on balls hit to the outfield.
Pomeranz (16-5) allowed five hits, walked three and struck out five to raise his record to 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his past six starts in Fenway Park. He also tied teammate Chris Sale and two others for the AL lead in victories.
Christian Vazquez hit a solo homer and Mitch Moreland added an RBI double for the Red Sox, who have won six of eight. Boston began the day with a three-game lead over the second-place Yankees.
The A’s took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning on Josh Phegley’s sacrifice fly, which scored Matt Chapman.
Boston tied it when Vazquez’s drive off Daniel Gossett left Fenway over the Green Monster seats leading off the bottom of the inning.
Andrew Benintendi doubled high off the Green Monster, chasing Gossett and scoring Dustin Pedroia to make it 2-1 in the sixth. Benintendi added a two-run single in Boston’s three-run seventh.
Gossett gave up three runs in 51⁄3 innings in his first career Fenway start.
“It was awesome. Great environment, tons of people. Historic park,” he said. “I got to be a part of something special. Not everybody can say that they pitched at Fenway. I got to sign the Monster, do everything. So that was special.” Briefly: Khris Davis left the A’s to be with his girlfriend for the expected birth of their first child . ... Pedroia has a 27-game hitting streak against the A’s dating to July 14, 2013. He’s batting .421 against them during the streak.