OAKLAND, Calif. _ Marco Estrada is becoming an early candidate for the Oakland A's hard-luck losing pitcher on the staff.
For a third consecutive start, the right-hander allowed three runs or less in a start that resulted in an A's loss, this time defeated 6-3 by the Boston Red Sox Wednesday night.
Estrada appeared to induce an inning-ending double play ball against Rafael Devers that would have preserved a two-run lead, but an errant throw by second baseman Jurickson Profar that was intended for Marcus Semien instead sailed into left field to keep the inning alive. Estrada walked J.D. Martinez next and was removed for left-hander Ryan Buchter, who on the first and only pitch he threw gave up a game-tying two-run double to Mitch Moreland.
Estrada finished the night allowing just three runs, two earned, over his 5 2/3 innings of work.
J.B. Wendelken came on in relief of Buchter and got out of the inning with the game still tied, but more defensive woes by Profar later in the game resulted in the Red Sox taking their first lead of the series.
Fernando Rodney came on in the ninth and recorded the first two outs before a hard grounder got past Profar and into right field to keep the inning alive. The ball took a tough hop on Profar and he did not make contact with it, so it was not ruled an error, but it was a play Profar usually makes.
Boston took advantage of the extra life as Mookie Betts later hit a chopper that bounced off the third base bag and into the A's bullpen for a double that drove home two runs.
Ramon Laureano blasted a two-run home run off Nathan Eovaldi in the fourth to extend the A's lead to 3-0 at the time, but the A's failed to take advantage of several opportunities. They finished 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.
