OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Wade Miley dueled with Athletics ace Sonny Gray and worked out of jams all game to end a three-start skid, and the Boston Red Sox beat Oakland 2-0 on Wednesday to take two of three in the series.

Facing the A’s for the first time in his five-year career, Miley (2-4) allowed the leadoff batter to reach in four of his first six innings. The left-hander won for the first time since April 21 at Tampa Bay, allowing four walks and five hits in 6 2-3 innings.

Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia runs safely to first base as Oakland Athletics first baseman Mark Canha leaps for the throw in the eighth inning Wednesday in Oakland, Calif. The Red Sox won 2-0. AP photo

Gray (4-1) struck out nine and didn’t walk a batter for the first time all season. but the A’s dropped to 1-11 in the daytime with their seventh loss in eight games.

Daniel Nava hit an RBI single in the second to snap an 0-for-20 slide and drive in the first run. The Red Sox won on the road for just the fourth time in their last 11 away from Fenway Park.

Boston added an unearned run on shortstop Marcus Semien’s wild throw to first in the eighth. Oakland has made errors in 11 straight games and a majors-high 36 in all.

Koji Uehara pitched the ninth for his seventh save. Boston won this series without big contributions from the middle of the batting order. Nos. 3-4-5 hitters David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval went a combined 5 for 36.

Sandoval hit a winning home run in the 11th inning Monday night but wrapped up his Bay Area return 1 for 12 and was booed whenever he stepped in the batter’s box. He received his World Series ring from Giants manager Bruce Bochy on Sunday night.

Ortiz went 2 for 13 this series and is 3 of 20 on the trip. Ramirez singled in the second and ninth for his only hits in a 2-for-11 Oakland stop.

Gray, with nine or more strikeouts for the third straight start, was trying to extend his best start to a season. He missed matching his career-best winning streak of six straight decisions dating to his last loss Sept. 23 against the Angels. He has allowed one earned run or fewer in six of his first eight starts.

The A’s snapped a season-high six-game losing streak in Tuesday night’s 9-2 win, but couldn’t build momentum to win back-to-back games — something they haven’t done since their lone winning streak April 13-14 at Houston.

Coco Crisp hit an infield single to begin the fifth for his first hit of the year — snapping an 0-for-26 funk with his first hit in 40 at-bats dating to last Sept. 26 — before Semien grounded into a double play and Josh Reddick flied out for another missed chance.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: Boston plans to place RHP Justin Masterson on the disabled list Thursday because of arm fatigue that has caused a drop in velocity in his last two starts, both losses. Steven Wright is likely to take his rotation spot to start Sunday at Seattle.

Athletics: Utilityman Ben Zobrist, recovering from left knee surgery, will continue hitting batting practice and could begin a rehab assignment when the team hits the road following this weekend’s series with the Chicago White Sox.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: RHP Joe Kelly makes his second career start against the Mariners as Boston concludes its season-long 10-game road trip by opening a four-game series at Safeco Field. He threw five scoreless innings opposite Felix Hernandez in a no-decision last Aug. 22 at Fenway Park.

Athletics: Off Thursday. RHP Jesse Hahn (1-3) looks to end a three-start winless streak in which he has lost his last two starts when the A’s open a weekend series Friday against the White Sox.

Related Stories