Athletics play error-free ball but lose to Boston anyway in 11 innings

OAKLAND — The Athletics played an error-free game, got two home runs from Shea Langeliers and JJ Bleday and a crushing relief effort from Mason Miller, but it wasn’t enough in a 5-4 loss to the Red Sox from Boston Tuesday evening at the Coliseum

Boston scored a run in the seventh thanks to a double play by Tyler O’Neill against losing pitcher Mitch Spence (0-1). Wilyer Abreu led off the inning at second base and went to third on a single by Reece McGuire. O’Neill’s double play to JD Davis at third base scored Abreu and the Red Sox led 5-4.

In the bottom of the 11th, Josh Winckowski (2-0) stranded his free runner at second base with help from center fielder Cedanne Rafaela, who missed an extra-base hit attempt by Langeliers. He struck out Lawrence Butler to end the game.

The A’s fell to 1-5 in front of a crowd of 5,112. Boston, 4-2, plays a getaway game against Wednesday. The A’s had committed eight errors in their previous two games and a major league record 13 heading into the game.

Two-run homers by Langeliers in the second and Bleday in the third were the first of the season for both. That also ended the scoring of the night for the A’s.

A’s closer Mason Miller pitched scoreless innings in the ninth and 10th. He walked one, struck out four and threw five pitches at 101.4 miles per hour or better with a high of 102.4. He threw 29 pitches with 20 strikes.

The A’s had a runner on third with no outs in the 10th, but couldn’t score against reliever Winckowski. Free runner Ryan Noda was sacrificed to third by Zach Gelof with JJ Bleday intentionally walking. JD Davis then hit a comebacker that trapped Noda at third for the second out, with Seth Brown striking out to end the inning.

Langeliers’ home run resulted in two outs in the second inning against Brayan Bello to tie the score 2-2. He raced 386 feet to left center and scored Davis, who doubled to right to start the inning. Davis went to third on a grounder and was in danger of being stranded when Brent Rooker struck out.

In the fourth, Bleday’s 406-foot shot to right center gave the A’s a 4-3 lead. That brought in Ryan Noda, who was on base with a one-out single.

Boston tied it in the seventh on a scoring single to right by Story against Lucas Erceg. That came moments after McFarland retired the dangerous Rafael Devers on a 4-6-3 double play that sent Jarren Duran to third. Pinch hitter Masataka Yoshida doubled to right to put runners at second and third, Triston Casas was intentionally walked and Erceg struck out Rafaela on a soft liner that was too short.

Starting pitcher Alex Wood pitched the fifth inning but was on a short leash, having thrown 88 pitches. He was pulled when he walked left-hander Triston Casas — he would have been pulled anyway — and right-hander Austin Adams emerged to throw. the A’s are eliminated from the set without further damage.

Although he allowed single runs in the first three innings, it was a major improvement for Wood, who allowed seven hits and six earned runs in his 3 1/3 inning start against Cleveland.

Boston reached Wood for an RBI double by Story in the first, a run-scoring single by Duran in the second and an RBI single by Reyes in the third. Wood walked two and struck out seven, allowing no runs in the fourth and fifth innings.