OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A.J. Griffin and Grant Balfour combined on a seven-hitter and the Oakland Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 3-0 Saturday night.
Derek Norris homered and Yoenis Cespedes added an RBI single to help the division-leading A’s end a two-game losing streak and maintain their one-game lead over Texas in the West. Oakland reached 55 wins before the All-Star break for the first time since 1975.
The A’s sputtering offense managed only one extra-base hit off Boston starter Jon Lester and one reliever, but made them hold up behind Griffin’s stellar outing.
Shane Victorino singled twice for Boston, which had won four straight.
Griffin (8-6) walked one and struck out three over eight innings to remain unbeaten in his last five starts. The Oakland right-hander pitched with runners on base in each of the first six innings and twice had to work out of two-on, two-out jams.
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