Gage Jump delivered six scoreless innings, and Brian Serven supplied an unexpected power boost Tuesday night.
Serven hit his first major league home run since 2022, helping the Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 at Sutter Health Park. The bullpen made the finish tense, but Hogan Harris secured his ninth save.
Tommy White also continued his strong start in the majors with a four-hit night. As a result, the Athletics improved to 45-62 and evened the series.
Jump takes control
Jump worked around traffic during his six innings. The left-hander allowed three hits and four walks, but he struck out seven and kept Boston off the scoreboard.
Boston opened the game with a Jahmai Jones double and a Willson Contreras walk. Then Wilyer Abreu grounded into a double play to end the threat.
Jump escaped two more runners in the second before the defense helped turn another double play in the third. The Red Sox also put a runner aboard in the fifth, but Jump picked off Jarren Duran.
He then struck out Andruw Monasterio and Jones. Jump finished by retiring Boston in order in the sixth, improving to 4-6 with a 4.00 ERA.
Serven goes deep
The Athletics gave Jump an early lead in the second inning. White singled with one out and moved to second on Colby Thomas’ sacrifice bunt.
Then Henry Bolte drove him home with a two-out single to center. The score remained 1-0 until the seventh.
Bolte opened that inning with a walk, and Alika Williams moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Serven followed by driving Jake Bennett’s pitch 419 feet to center for a two-run homer.
It was Serven’s first major league home run since 2022. The catcher had been recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas after Shea Langeliers landed on the injured list.
White keeps hitting
White finished 4-for-4 and scored twice. He singled in the second, fourth and sixth innings before adding another hit in the eighth.
Lawrence Butler then doubled him home, giving the Athletics a 4-1 lead. That insurance run became decisive in the ninth.
White raised his batting average to .359. Meanwhile, Bolte went 2-for-3 with a walk, one RBI and his 12th stolen base.
Jacob Wilson doubled and stole third in the seventh. Overall, the Athletics collected nine hits and went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Bullpen survives the finish
Luis Medina opened the seventh and kept Boston scoreless, but the Red Sox broke through in the eighth. Masataka Yoshida singled, and Anthony Seigler walked.
A double play helped Medina nearly escape. However, Contreras walked before Harris entered and allowed an RBI single to Abreu.
Harris struck out Ceddanne Rafaela to preserve the lead. Then Butler restored the three-run margin in the bottom half.
Boston threatened again in the ninth. Harris struck out Caleb Durbin and Monasterio, but Duran singled before Connor Wong hit a two-run homer.
Still, Harris retired Seigler on a fly ball to center. Bolte made the catch to close the 4-3 win.
Up next
The Athletics and Red Sox continue the series Wednesday at Sutter Health Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. PDT.
Jacob Lopez starts for the A’s. He enters at 5-4 with a 6.12 ERA and 53 strikeouts.
Boston counters with left-hander Sandoval, who is 0-0 with a 3.21 ERA and 13 strikeouts.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
