Dustin Pedroia hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the eighth inning, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 4-2 on Friday night in a matchup between the AL's top teams.

John Lackey (7-6) overcame a season-high four walks in seven innings to carry the AL-leading Red Sox to their fourth straight victory. He allowed two runs and three hits while striking out five. He also hit a batter.

Brock Holt drove in two runs in the second before the A's rallied.

John Jaso hit an RBI single in the fifth and Jed Lowrie added a tying home run in the sixth for Oakland, which remained a game ahead of Texas in the AL West. Sean Doolittle (3-3) allowed one hit and hit a batter before Ryan Cook gave up Pedroia's two-out single.

[Associated Press]

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