Boston @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( May 2, 2012 ) Oakland 4, Boston 2

Jarrod Parker is the latest in a long line of talented pitchers to come up through the Oakland Athletics’ system and he’ll try to keep his solid rookie season going when the Athletics host the Boston Red Sox on Monday in the first of a three-game series. Parker, whose first career victory came at Boston on May 1 when the Athletics took two of three, allowed only nine earned runs in his last 46 innings, which translates into a 1.76 ERA. He is 2-0 in his last three starts.

The Red Sox began their seven-game road trip with a split of a four-game series at Seattle, capped by Sunday's 2-1 comeback victory in 10 innings. Boston is 6 1/2 games behind New York in the American League East and hosts the Yankees for four games beginning Friday prior to the All-Star break.

The Athletics won at Texas 3-1 on Sunday after losing the first three games of the series to the Rangers.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), CS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-2, 4.91 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (4-3, 2.57 ERA)

Matsuzaka is coming off his best start, his fourth since returning from Tommy John surgery. He allowed one run, six hits and struck out five in 5 2/3 innings, but didn’t receive a decision in the Red Sox’ 5-1 victory over Toronto on Tuesday. Matsuzaka is 4-1 in seven career starts against the Athletics, including 2-1 in Oakland. The Athletics’ roster is hitting only .203 against him, with only Kurt Suzuki (4-for-11, homer, two RBIs) having any amount of success.

Parker allowed one run, three hits and struck out nine in seven innings in Oakland’s 2-1 victory at Seattle on Wednesday. He has permitted one run or none in six of his last seven starts and is 3-1 during that span. Boston’s Cody Ross went 2-for-3 with a double against him in Oakland’s 5-3 victory earlier this season.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Boston designated hitter David Ortiz, who hasn’t homered in four games and has 399 for his career, was named to the American League All-Star team Sunday for the eighth time. It is the first time since 2001 the Red Sox will have only one player on the team (Manny Ramirez).

2. Reliever Ryan Cook will represent Oakland in the All-Star Game.

3. Boston’s Adrian Gonzalez has a 12-game hitting streak.