Another Ramon Laureano rocket preserves another A’s shutout win

Six more scoreless innings from Mike Fiers and a solo homer from Matt Chapman were almost all the A’s needed to defeat the Red Sox 1-0 Tuesday night. 

The first inning featured the only run of the game when Chapman, with a full count, crushed a 374-foot home run into left-center. The Red Sox outhit the A’s (5-3), but four A’s pitchers combined to shut out Boston (1-5) for the second-straight game.

This story has been updated with quotes and post-game material from the A’s clubhouse at the Oakland Coliseum.

The Oakland win came down to pitching and, once again, a spectacular Ramon Laureano putout from the outfield.

Laureano uncorked another game-saving throw to third base, preventing Xander Bogaerts from stretching a double to keep Boston out of scoring position in the ninth.

Chapman said he was glad it wasn’t a home run and knew it was going to come down to the tag at third:

“I am never betting against Ramon’s arm, you know he just seems to make incredible throw after incredible throw. They are all on the money. I’m just glad I was able to hang in there, everything just happened so fast but I am just glad we were able to get out of that one with a win.”

Of Fiers’ 81 total pitches, 57 were strikes. He didn’t allow a single walk or run, striking out three and giving up five hits. The Red Sox left six men on base.

Fiers has been dealing with a minor calf injury for a couple of weeks and said it’s nothing too crazy. He felt good tonight, made good pitches and tried to keep Boston off balance:

“I think were just focused on doing our job … doing our homework on these other hitters and just executing pitches. Good pitching is going to beat good hitting, we have been doing that lately so just have to keep passing the torch and keep it going.”

Ryan Buchter relieved Fiers (W, 2-1, 3.00 ERA) in the seventh and threw nothing but strikes, punching out three alongside a double to Christian Vasquez.

Lou Trivino went one-two-three through the top of Boston’s order before Blake Treinen came in to close and earn the save. With one out, Bogaerts hit the ball deep into right-center field. The ball bounced off the ball as Bogaerts was rounding second.

Just like Monday night, Laureano used his cannon to throw Bogaerts out at third. It was a close call and, under review, the call stood. Laureano had his third putout of the season; he threw Bogaerts out at home yesterday then at again at third tonight.

Chapman not only made the huge tag at third, he was also the one and only run of the night. Bob Melvin talked about what a threat he is defensively and at the plate:

“Everyone talks about his defense but he is going to be one of the elite offensive players too. Since he has been hitting in the No. 2 spot he is hitting like one of the elite players in the league and it’s only going to get better for him.”

Sale (L, 0-2, 8.00 ERA) gave up the one run off a homer and struck out one, while walking two and giving up three hits.

On Deck

 Oakland A’s Marco Estrada (0-0, 2.45 ERA) will start Wednesday night against Boston Red Sox RHP Nathan Eovaldi (0-0, 10.80 ERA) First pitch set for 7:07 p.m.  

Notes

Marcus Semien‘s seven-game hitting streak ended with an 0-for-4 outing with a strikeout. … Matt Olson’s stitches are out and he was back on the field warming up today.