Rooker’s 30th Home Run Sinks Red Sox in 5-3 Loss
It was another tough night for the Boston Red Sox, who dropped a 5-3 game at Fenway Park to the Oakland Athletics. The big story of the night was Brent Rooker, who delivered his 30th home run of the season in the very first inning, setting the tone for Oakland’s victory. The A’s came out swinging, stringing together four straight hits to start the game. Lawrence Butler opened things with a double off the Green Monster, and then Rooker sent a two-run shot into the seats. That was quickly followed by Nick Kurtz’s double and a run-scoring single from Tyler Soderstrom. Before Boston could even settle in, they were already in a three-run hole.
Oakland starter J.T. Ginn did exactly what his team needed. Over six innings of work, he allowed just five hits and two runs, walking only one and striking out three. While not overpowering, his ability to limit Boston’s lineup gave the Athletics control early. Hogan Harris came in later to close things out, pitching two innings and recording his fourth save.
Also Read:For the Red Sox, the frustration continues to build. They’ve now lost five of their last seven games at a critical point in the season. David Hamilton and Trevor Story did provide a bit of spark, each connecting for solo home runs, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the early damage. Starting pitcher Brayan Bello struggled, lasting only four innings while giving up four runs—three of them earned—on five hits and two walks.
The loss came at a particularly bad time for Boston. They entered the night tied with Seattle for the final American League wild-card spot, and with Cleveland winning their game against Detroit, the standings just got a little tighter. Every game down the stretch matters, and Boston’s recent skid is putting more pressure on an already tense playoff chase.
Meanwhile, Rooker’s milestone homer wasn’t just a personal achievement; it highlighted a team accomplishment as well. He joined Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers in the 30-home-run club, making the A’s one of only a handful of teams in franchise history to have three players hit that mark in the same season. The last time it happened was in 2019, and it’s a sign that while Oakland may not be in contention this year, they’re still showing some impressive power at the plate.
Looking ahead, the Athletics will move on to Pittsburgh, where Luis Severino is set to face Mitch Keller in their series opener. The Red Sox, meanwhile, will try to reset on the road against Tampa Bay in a three-game set that could very well shape their playoff chances. Garrett Crochet, Kyle Harrison, and Connelly Early are lined up to pitch, and Boston will need strong performances if they hope to turn things around.
For now, though, the story of the night is clear: Brent Rooker’s bat powered the A’s, while Boston was left with another costly loss at a crucial moment in the season.
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