The Red Sox just announced some roster moves. Nothing unexpected.

Here's the release from the team:

The Boston Red Sox today selected right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook to the active Major League roster from Triple-A Pawtucket. The club also announced that shortstop Jose Iglesias was optioned to Pawtucket following Wednesday night’s game.

To make room for Cook on the 40-man roster, the club transferred outfielder Carl Crawford to the 60-day disabled list. Cook is scheduled to start against the Orioles on Saturday at Fenway Park.

Cook, 33, began the season with Triple-A Pawtucket after signing with Boston as a minor league free agent on January 11. In five starts for the PawSox, he went 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA (7 ER/33.1 IP), 13 strikeouts, 11 walks and 26 hits allowed.

The right-hander entered today ranked third in the International League in ERA and innings pitched and first among all Triple-A hurlers with two complete games, each 7.0 innings in length. He yielded three or fewer runs over 5.0 innings or more in all five starts, including three outings allowing one run or less. A National League All-Star with Colorado in 2008, Cook is 72-68 with a 4.53 ERA (660 ER/1,312.1 IP) in 238 career Major League appearances, including 206 starts, all with the Rockies over the last 10 seasons from 2002-11.

Iglesias did not appear in a game for Boston after being recalled from Pawtucket on Tuesday. In 23 contests for the PawSox this season, the 22-year-old is 19-for-88 (.216) with a double, five RBI, 10 walks, 11 runs scored and four stolen bases.

Crawford, 30, was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 4 (retroactive to March 26) recovering from left wrist surgery.

Globe national baseball writer Nick Cafardo discusses Adrian Gonzalez's slow start to the season, the repercussions of Will Middlebrooks being called up to replace Kevin Youkilis while Youkilis is on the disabled list, and this weekend's Red Sox-Orioles series.

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff

Jose Iglesias may be the future shortstop of the Red Sox, but his stay with the parent team is over for now.

Iglesias has spent the past couple of days on the major league team as protection while the Red Sox figured out the Kevin Youkilis situation.

Iglesias' roster spot will likely be taken by Aaron Cook, who will start Saturday vs. the Orioles in place of Josh Beckett, who will miss a start with a lat strain.

The Red Sox certainly liked what they saw from Clayton Mortensen, who pitched three innings in relief in Boston's 4-2 loss to the Oakland A's Wednesday night. He struck out six.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

NESN's Jerry Remy will be out at least another six games recovering from a sinus infection according to the network.

Remy, who has missed the last five games, is now scheduled to return to the booth on May 10.

Dennis Eckersley and Peter Gammons will join Don Orsillo until then with Eckersley doing four games and Gammons two.

Eckersley will be in the booth on Friday for the start of the series against Baltimore. Gammon will then call the games on Saturday and Sunday before Eckersley works the series in Kansas City.

It was a frustrating night for Adrian Gonzalez as the Red Sox were beaten, 4-2, by Oakland.

Nick Cafardo writes that it was a night to remember for Will Middlebrooks.

The notebook has Aaron Cook coming up to start in place of Josh Beckett on Saturday and Kevin Youkilis going on the disabled list.

Globe Red Sox beat reporter Peter Abraham offers his views after the Red Sox lost the finale of their series vs. the A's on Wednesday. Video includes interviews with manager Bobby Valentine and starting pitcher Daniel Bard.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

Adrian Gonzalez is one of the best hitters in baseball because, among other things, he has great poise at the plate. So it was a unusual to see him slam his bat into the ground after striking out with the bases loaded to end the seventh inning.

Then again, it's unusual to see him hitless in 17 straight at-bats, too. That's his longest skid as a member of the Red Sox.

The missed opportunity, one of many on the night for the Red Sox, helped lead to a 4-2 loss against the Oakland Athletics.

The Sox were hitless in 13 at-bats with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base. The cold night ended with Gonzalez grounding out with Dustin Pedroia at second. That's three losses in four games for the Sox.

“This game is all on me. I had two great opportunities and I didn’t come through,” said Gonzalez, who is hitting .250.

Bobby Valentine’s theory is that Gonzalez is tired, having played all but three innings this season.

"His timing and recognition of the strike zone is just a little off,” Valentine said. “He’ll be fine.”

Gonzalez shunned that excuse.

“Not at all, not at all. I feel great,” he said. “It’s one of those things that it’s just two at-bats, I should have come through at least one of those times and I wasn’t able to. I feel great physically, I feel great. I’m not tired at all. I just didn’t come through.”

Gonzalez agreed with Valentine about his timing.

“I’m just a little late on fastballs, just a little early on off-speed pitches. It happens,” he said. “I’m a guy that goes off of feel and what I feel now. You can’t go back and try to regain what you had two, three, four years ago.

“I’ve gone through a lot worse things than I’m going through now. It’s just four games. At the end of the day, I’m always going to have the right approach, I’m always going to be prepared and I’m always going to be looking for a pitch that I’m going to drive. I haven’t been able to do it these last four days but it will change come Friday.”

Daniel Bard (2-3) allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings to take the loss as the Sox fell to 4-7 at Fenway Park. He allowed eight hits, walked two and struck out one.

After striking out 19 over 18 2/3 innings in his first three starts, Bard admitted he was “bewildered” by his performance.

“I had a hard time putting guys away,” he said. “Especially early in the game, I was getting to a lot of 0-2 and 1-2 counts and would make those pitches on the edges of the zone and for whatever reason wasn’t getting chases. They would foul them off and work it until I left something over the plate.”

A few notes:

• Brandon McCarthy (2-3) pitched into the seventh inning for the win. He is 8-0 with a 3.34 ERA in his last 13 starts against American League East teams. Once the Athletics conduct their next yard sale of talent that is too pricey, that statistic is sure to be remembered.

• Ryan Sweeney has 12 doubles. That's one more than he had with Oakland all last season. He leads the majors in two-baggers.

• How about Clayton Mortensen? The guy who was gained in the Marco Scutaro salary dump allowed a single then retired nine straight, six by strikeout. Believe it or not, Sox relievers have allowed two earned runs in their last 28 innings.

• Will Middlebrooks was 2 for 3 with a walk and a double in his debut. It didn't show Wednesday night in the result, but some youth can only help the Sox. See more in the Globe Thursday on Middlebrooks.

By the way, the last Red Sox player to reach base three times in his debut was Morgan Burkhart in 2000. In case you were wondering, Ted Williams was 1 for 4 and fanned twice. He faced Red Ruffing.

• David Ortiz is hitting .488 (21 of 43) at Fenway. He's at a silly .391/.441/.707 on the season. It's only 24 games, but a 1.148 OPS? Holy smokes.

• The Sox have scored 1 run or less with Bard on the mound in three of his four starts.

The Sox are off tomorrow and so is your friendly neighborhood beat writer. But there could be a post or two.

Game over:

Lefty Brian Fuentes spotted the Red Sox a one-out infield single by Mike Aviles and a run-producing double by Dustin Pedroia, but managed to hold it right there. He retired Adrian Gonzalez on a grounder to end the game. It was Fuentes' 200th save. Brandon McCarthy (2-3) got the win and Daniel Bard (2-3) took the loss. The game was played in 3:22 minutes, before 37,434.

Top 9th: A's 4, Red Sox 1

Clay Mortenson has been the most impressive part of this game for Boston. Throwing strikes and getting ahead on the count. Mortensen went three innings, struck out six and allowed one hit and retired the last nine batters he faced.

Bottom 8th: A's 4, Red Sox 1

David Ortiz doubled to the rightfield corner on a drive that Josh Reddick should have caught. But the Sox offense stalled once again.

Top 8th: A's 4, Red Sox 1

Another strong inning for Clay Mortensen with a pair of strikeouts.

Bottom 7th: A's 4, Red Sox 1

Marlon Byrd's sacrifice fly scored Jarrod Saltalamacchia with Boston's only run. Will Middlebrooks doubled to right after Salty singled. After Byrd's hit, the Sox loaded the bases on two more walks - one by Ryan Sweeney which spelled the end of McCarthy's night and one by Pedroia against reliever Ryan Cook. The team needed Adrian Gonzalez to come up with a big hit, and he couldn't as he struck out to end the inning.

Bottom 6th: A's 4, Red Sox 0

Red Sox can't seem to muster anything against McCarthy. David Ortiz' two-out double high atop the left field wall, was only the third hit for the Red Sox. Ortiz was stranded when Ross popped out.

Top 6th: A's 4, Red Sox 0

The Red Sox are playing like the F's against the A's tonight. A misplayed ball in left on Seth Smith's RBI double by Cody Ross (not called an error) led to all sorts of trouble for Daniel Bard. Reddick had singled to lead off the inning, but with one out Smith doubled him in. Smith came in on Ka'aihue's single to right. After Suzuki was hit in the left hand. Inge then doubled in the fourth A's run. With Bard's pitch total exceeding 100, Bobby Valentine came to get him. In came Matt Albers who pitched very wlel in preventing further damage. He struck out Sogard and then retired Crisp on a tapper back to the mound.

Bottom 5th: A's 1, Red Sox 0

Sox left runners in scoring position after Saltlamacchia reached on an error by the right fielder and Will Middlebrooks reached with his first major league hit, a nubber he beat out to third base. After Byrd and Aviles made outs (though Aviles looked safe on a ground ball), Sweeney popped to center to end the threat.

Top 5th:A's 1, Red Sox 0

Bard has a strong inning, retiring Eric Sogard with a fly out and then the top of the order where Coco Crisp struck out swinging and Cliff Pennington grounded out top Bard.

Bottom 4th: A's 1, Red Sox 0

Brandon McCarthy, who is 7-0 vs. AL-East teams in his last 12 starts against them, dominated the Sox in the fourth with a strikeout (Adrian Gonzalez) and a pair of ground ball outs (Ortiz and Ross).

Top 4th: A's 1, Red Sox 0

Seth Smith knocked in Yoenis Cespedes with a single after Cespedes doubled off the wall with one out. Bard also allowed a single to Suzuki, but managed to strand two runners.

Bottom 3rd: A's 0, Red Sox 0

The top of the Sox order - Aviles, Sweeney and Pedroia - are quickly set down.

Top 3rd: A's 0, Red Sox 0

Bard walked Brandon Inge to start the third, but retired the side in order. Bard continues to show a good slider and an emerging changeup.

Bottom 2nd: A's 0, Red Sox 0

In his first plate appearance, Will Middlebrooks, batting 8th in the Sox order, drew a four-pitch walk from A's starter Brandon McCarthy with two outs. Middlebrooks then stole his first major league base, beating Suzuki's throw to second base with Marlon Byrd up.Byrd, however, struck out to end the inning.

Top 2nd: A's 0, Red Sox 0

Bard walked Ka'aihue after two outs, but got Kurt Suzuki to ground out to shortstop.

Bottom 1st: Athletics 0, Red Sox 0:

Ryan Sweeney had his 12th double with one out. Pedroia flied to left, Crisp catching it in the corner. Gonzalez walked before Ortiz grounded into the shift.

He's 0 for 5 in May after his ridiculous April. Maybe that's because it feels like November.

OK, Nick will handle it from here.

Top 1st: Athletics 0, Red Sox 0: Bard allowed a one-out single to left by Pennington, Then he started a 1-6-3 double play on Reddick.

Sox are wearing their 1936 uniforms. The socks are pretty sweet. If I were commissioner there would be mandatory showing of socks. And an AL East team in Las Vegas.

Pre-game: Hello from chilly Fenway Park, where the Red Sox will try and take the series from Oakland.

Daniel Bard, off his best start of the season, will face Brandon McCarthy. It's also the MLB debut for Will Middlebrooks.

Nick Cafardo will join you soon. I'll have the updates until then.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

Josh Beckett has what the Red Sox are calling soreness in the right lat, a muscle behind the shoulder. So he will skip his start Saturday. Bobby Valentine and Ben Cherington said they expect Beckett to miss only the one start and not to go on the disabled list. But obviously this bears watching.

This was predictable given Beckett's 126 pitches Saturday in Chicago.

Other notes:

• The Sox signed 31-year-old Mark Prior to a minor league deal after watching him throw in Fort Myers for a few weeks. He is coming off groin surgery.

Prior has not pitched in the majors since 2006 when he was with the Cubs. He got in 11 minor league games for the Yankees last season and pitched well before injuries ended that comeback attempt.

This is a virtually no-cost signing for the Red Sox.

• Carl Crawford shagged some balls in the outfield today. But he is not yet throwing or swinging a bat. He is due for an exam on his left elbow next week and if cleared, could start swinging a bat.

• If you're still trying to figure out the roster, Jose Iglesias is still here. Kevin Youkilis (DL) and Lars Anderson (optioned) are out and Will Middlebrooks and Clayton Mortensen were added.

• Middlebrooks started the day with No. 83. Now he's No. 64. Iglesias is wearing No. 58. Middlebrooks's close friend, Patriots quarterback Ryan Mallett, will be at the game tonight.

• Jacoby Ellsbury is making progress with his range of motion. He said, "I don't know," when asked if he was close to baseball activities.

• The Red Sox are scheduled for 20 games in as many days starting Friday. The powers that be are discussing whether to go with a six-man rotation given the lack of days off. This would serve to give Aaron Cook a spot in the rotation and help control the innings of Daniel Bard and Felix Doubront.

Then again, it also would leave them an arm short in the bullpen. Nothing has been decided at this point.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

Kevin Youkilis said a few minutes ago that his lower back started to loosen up today but he remains at least three or four days away from playing -- if not longer. As a result, the Red Sox have put him on the disabled list.

"I had an irritated joint or whatever in the back that just has been happening for a little bit of time now," Youkilis said. "Basically, the last couple of days have been bad and trying to get through it. Made great strides from yesterday to today. Things are going well but they want to get a step ahead of it and get me as healthy as possible."

Youkilis said he had a breakthrough today working with team physical therapy consultant Dan Dyrek and that his back started to feel better.

"It's going to take me three or four days, that's what they're telling me, of just trying to get through and not do too much baseball stuff where it can irritate it more," Youkilis said. "For me it'll be a little bit of time. But the good thing is they know what's going on and it's nothing like a surgery or a major injury."

The news is not as good for Josh Beckett, who reported more soreness than usual after his start against Chicago on Sunday when he threw 126 pitches. Beckett will miss his start on Saturday and Aaron Cook will pitch in his place.

Cook will not be called up until then. In the meantime, the Sox have RHP Clayton Mortensen on the roster.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (11-12)
Aviles SS
Sweeney RF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ortiz DH
Ross LF
Saltalamacchia C
Middlebrooks 3B
Byrd CF
Pitching: RHP Daniel Bard (2-2, 3.72)

ATHLETICS (12-13)
Crisp LF
Pennington SS
Reddick RF
Cespedes CF
Smith DH
Ka'aihue 1B
Suzuki C
Inge 3B
Sogard 2B
Pitching: RHP Brandon McCarthy (1-3, 3.23)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Athletics vs. Bard: Pennington 2-6, Crisp 0-4, Suzuki 0-4, Barton 0-2, Inge 0-1, Smith 0-1.

Red Sox vs. McCarthy: Ortiz 3-10, Youkilis 1-11, Sweeney 2-9, Shoppach 3-6, Pedroia 2-6, Aviles 0-3, Punto 0-3.

Stat of the Day: McCarthy is 7-0, 3.50 in 12 starts against AL East teams since the start of the 2009 season.

Notes: The Sox have dropped two of three after winning six straight. ... Bard is 0-0, 0.64 over 14 innings in 14 career appearances against Oakland. ... McCarthy is 1-3, 6.29 in seven career appearances against the Red Sox, the last in 2009. ... Middlebrooks was hitting .333/.380/.677 with Pawtucket this season. He has nine home runs and 27 RBIs in 24 games. ... The Red Sox also called up RHP Clayton Mortensen, who was obtained from the Rockies for Marco Scutaro. He has 24 games of big league experience with the Cardinals and Rockies, posting a 5.12 ERA. He was 2-2, 0.90 in six relief appearances for Pawtucket. ... The teams will wear 1936 throwback uniforms tonight. Before that season, the Philadelphia A's sold Jimmie Foxx to Boston.

Song of the Day: "New Kid In Town by The Eagles.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

Third baseman Will Middlebrooks is en route to join the Red Sox, according to CSNNE.com. What is uncertain at this time is whether he will replace Jose Iglesias on the roster or if Kevin Youkilis is headed to the disabled list.

A Red Sox source said no decision has been made on the corresponding roster move. There is an open roster spot after the demotion of Lars Anderson last night. But the Red Sox also plan to add RHP Aaron Cook to the roster.

The move for Cook may not come until Friday. He had the right to opt out of his minor league deal on Tuesday, but the Sox had 48 hours to make a roster move for him.

Youkilis has missed the last three games with a back injury.

The 23-year-old Middlebrooks is hitting .333/.380/.677 with Pawtucket this season. He has nine home runs and 27 RBIs in 24 games.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

In most instances, managers are exactly correct to play the percentages. What is the point of having information at your fingertips if you aren't going to use it?

But sometimes it comes back to get you.

With lefty Brian Fuentes warming up to start the eighth inning, Bobby Valentine sent Darnell McDonald up to pinch hit for Ryan Sweeney.

Sweeney is a career .230/.301/.287 hitter against lefties. He is 1 for 9 this season. McDonald is on the roster to take swings against lefties. With his team down 5-1 at the time and down to six outs, Valentine was making the right move.

Oakland manager Bob Melvin countered that move by calling in righthander Ryan Cook. Valentine then pinch hit lefty hitting Lars Anderson.

That was probably one move too many. McDonald is 3 for 19 against righties this season. But Anderson was 8 for 46 in his career against anybody. He struck out.

The real problem came in the ninth inning.

With two runs in, two on and one out, Anderson's spot in the order came up against Oakland lefty Jordan Norberto. Here were the roster choices Valentine had:

1. Kevin Youkilis, on the roster but unable to play because of a back injury.

2. Kelly Shoppach, the backup catcher. No manager likes using his backup catcher.

3. Jose Iglesias, who was hitting .200/.274/.212 at Pawtucket.

Youkilis stood there holding a bat pretending he could pinch hit. But Melvin stayed with Norberto and he struck out Anderson on four pitches.

I think I would have gone with Shoppach, who hits lefties fairly well. But it sure would have been nice to have McDonald available.

Dustin Pedroia then grounded into a force to end the game.

Valentine did nothing wrong. But sometimes doing the right thing isn't all it's cracked up to be.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

The Red Sox optioned Lars Anderson back to Triple A Pawtucket after the game Tuesday night. But GM Ben Cherington did not announce a corresponding move.

What seems likely is the Red Sox will add righthander Aaron Cook to the roster on Wednesday. Cook can opt out of his minor league contract otherwise and he has pitched well enough with Pawtucket (3-0, 1.89 ERA in five starts) to quickly catch on with another organization.

The delay could simply be opening a spot on the 40-man roster for Cook.

Game over: A's 5, Red Sox 3 The Red Sox dropped back below .500 (11-12) after dropping a 5-3 loss to the Oakland A's Monday night at Fenway Park before a crowd of 37,225.

Righthander Jarrod Parker (1-0, 1.38 ERA) picked up his first Major League victory of his career -- and first ever against the Red Sox -- after he allowed just one run on four hits and two walks over 6 2/3 innings. Parker outlasted Sox lefty starter Felix Doubront (1-1, 5.19), who gave up five runs on six hits and two walks while recording a career-high eight strikeouts.

Red Sox pitchers combined for a season-high 15 strikeouts against the A's.

The Sox made it interesting when they loaded the bases with one out against A's closer Grant Balfour, who wound up getting chased from the game by Mike Aviles's 2-RBI single to center, which scored Cody Ross (lead-off double to left) and Marlon Byrd (single to left) to pull the Sox within 5-3.

Jordan Norberto relieved Balfour with one out and two men aboard and struck out Lars Anderson on three pitches. It brought up Dustin Pedroia, who had an opportunity to win it with one swing, but grounded out to second for a game-ending force out on Aviles.

Top of 9th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Matt Albers stayed in the game and recorded the 14th strikeout of the game by a Sox pitcher to get out of the inning after Cliff Pennington led off with a single to right, advanced on a groundball out by Weeks, and stole third. It was the fourth time the A's had stolen third on the night. Albers got Brandon Inge to ground to second and Reddick to strike out to send it to the bottom of the ninth, where the Sox faced. A's closer Grant Balfour.

Bottom of 8th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Ryan Cook started the eighth in relief of Brian Fuentes and got out of the inning unscathed after he walked Adrian Gonzalez with two outs and then struck out David Ortiz, who was caught looking at an 84 slider. After a torrid April, the first day of May was not kind to Big Papi (0 for 4).

Top of 8th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Hill got the first two outs of the innings when he got Suzuki to hit a warning-track fly to center and struck out Ka'aihue (looking, 92 fastball) before turning it over Matt Albers, who struck out Recker (looking, 93 sinker). Fine night's work for Hill (1.2 IP, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts).

Bottom of 7th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: After Cody Ross doubled to left, Parker tried to put the clamps on the Sox, retiring the next two he faced before he walked Punto, thus ending his night after 6 2/3 innings. LHP Brian Fuentes relieved Parker (1 run, 4 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, 1 wild pitch, 1 hit batter, 98 pitches) with two out and two men on. Fuentes got out of the inning when he induced Aviles to hit a sharply-struck grounder to third for the force out on Ross.

Top of 7th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Nice inning for Rich Hill. The Pride of Milton, Mass. retired three of the first four batters he faced, giving up a wall-ball double to Josh Reddick, before stranding him at second with back-to-back strikeouts of Cespedes (swinging, 75 curveball) and Gomes (looking, 94 fastball). It put a jolt in the sleepy Fenway crowd.

Bottom of 6th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Nothin' doin' for the Sox as Parker throws a clean 1-2-3 inning. Rich Hill entered the game in the seventh in relief of Scott Atchison (2 IP, 2 hits, 1 strikeout). Hill, a native of Milton, Mass., made his first Fenway appearance since June 9, 2011, when he injured his left elbow and had to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Top of 6th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: After inducing Suzuki to ground out to third, Atchison gave up back-to-back singles to Ka'aihue and Recker to put two men aboard for Pennington, who flew to left. With LHP Rich Hill warming up in the Sox bullpen, Atchison got out of the inning when he got Jemile Weeks to ground to third.

Bottom of 5th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Parker seemed to struggle when Jarrod Saltalamacchia led off with a single to center and went to second after Nick Punto drew a walk. Parker got out of the inning when he caught Aviles looking at a 95 fastball and fought back from a 3-0 count to get Ryan Sweeney to fly to left.

Top of 5th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Clean 1-2-3 inning for Atchison, who needed only 13 pitches to do the job, striking out Josh Reddick, inducing Yoenis Cespedes to pop to second and Jonny Gomes to bunt it back toward the mound.

Bottom of 4th, A's 5, Red Sox 1: Dustin Pedroia got one back for the Sox in the bottom of the 4th. Pedroia reached on a lead-off single to right -- marking only the second hit Parker had given up in the game -- advanced to second on a wild pitch, and went to third on Adrian Gonzalez's ground out to first and scored on David Ortiz's ground ball out to second.

Scott Atchinson entered the game in the top of fifth in relief of Doubront, who went a season-low four innings and allowed 5 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks and 2 wild pitches while striking out 8. He threw 94 pitches, 58 for strikes.

Top of 4th, A's 5, Red Sox 0: Doubront labored as he allowed four runs to score and his pitch count to swell to 94 pitches. After he struck out leadoff batter Jonny Gomes, Doubront gave up a single to Suzuki and a walk to Ka'aihue. He established a new career mark for strikeouts in a game when he fanned Anthony Recker for his eighth punchout of the game. But Cliff Pennington followed with an RBI double to give the A's a 2-0 lead. Jemile Weeks hit a 2-RBI single to right, scoring Ka'aihue and Pennington to make it 4-0. Weeks, who advanced to second on the throw to home, stole third and scored on a wild pitch by Doubront.

Bottom of 3d, A's 1, Red Sox 0: Parker seemed fully engaged in this pitcher's duel with Doubront, needing only six pitches in a 1-2-3 third after getting Nick Punto to ground out to third and Mike Aviles and Ryan Sweeney to fly to left.

Top of 3d, A's 1, Red Sox 0: A 1-2-3 inning for Doubront, who recorded his sixth strikeout of the game with a 94-fastball that froze Josh Reddick. Despite giving up a run in the first, and running his pitch count to 62 pitches, Doubront kept the Sox in the game.

Bottom of 2d, A's 1, Red Sox 0: Parker continued to impress as he retired three of the four batters he faced in the inning, and six of the first eight overall, recording a pair of strikeouts during that stretch. Cody Ross got the first hit -- a single to left -- off Parker but wound up getting stranded when Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out and Marlon Byrd flew to center.

Top of 2d, A's 1, Red Sox 0: After Kila Ka'aihue led off with a ground-rule double to right and stole third (for his first stolen base of the season), Doubront struck out Anthony Recker (86 changeup), got Cliff Pennington to fly to left and struck out Jemile Weeks. Through two innings, Doubront rang up five strikeouts while throwing 50 pitches, including 30 in the first inning.

Bottom of 1st, A's 1, Red Sox 0: The Red Sox were unable to muster any kind of response against rookie RHP Jarrod Parker, who was making his second start for the A's and first of his career vs. Boston. Parker allowed only one runner to reach when he hit Ryan Sweeney with a pitch. Parker stranded Sweeney when he struck out Dustin Pedroia and got Adrian Gonzalez to ground out to first.

Top of 1st, A's 1, Red Sox 0: Yoenis Cespedes gave the A's a 1-0 lead with one out in the top of the 1st when he hit an RBI single to center off Felix Doubront. With Josh Reddick (walk, stolen base) at third and Cespedes at first, Doubront stranded the A's baserunners with back-to-back strikeouts of Jonny Gomes (swinging at a 94 fastball) and Kurt Suzuki (looking at an 87 changeup).

Pregame: Welcome to a soggy Fenway Park where the Red Sox (11-11) will attempt to climb above the .500 mark for the first time this season against the Oakland A's (11-13). It took the Sox 40 games last year before they reached the .500 mark (20-20). LHP Felix Doubront (1-0, 4.09 ERA) will draw his fifth starting assignment of the season for the Sox. Doubront, who recorded no decisions in his first three starts, picked up his first win of the season in a 10-3 romp of the Chicago White Sox April 26. He will be opposed by RHP Jarrod Parker (0-0, 1.42), who will be making his first career appearance against the Red Sox after being called up from Triple A Sacramento April 25.

As always, please feel free to post your comments here. Enjoy the game.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

The gates are open at Fenway Park and the rain is supposed to stop sometime soon according to the forecast.

So game on.

Dress warm. It's 46 in Boston at the moment.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

The Red Sox called up shortstop Jose Iglesias and optioned RHP Junichi Tazawa to Triple A Pawtucket.

Bobby Valentine said that Iglesias was called up to serve as an infield backup with Kevin Youkilis out of the lineup for the third consecutive game with a back injury.

Youkilis was not available for comment when the clubhouse was open to the media this afternoon. Valentine said he didn't know if Youkilis would end up on the disabled list.

There is no news regarding RHP Aaron Cook, who can opt out of his minor league contract today. Cook pitched for Pawtucket on Saturday, throwing 6.1 innings. So adding him to the roster today would accomplish little given that he would not be available.

The Sox could have Iglesias here as insurance for a day or two then add Cook to the roster on Wednesday. Clearly they aren't going to go with a five-man bullpen for very long.

As for Will Middlebrooks, the Mike Schmidt of the International League, he is dealing with a minor thumb injury.

Nick Cafardo and Chad Finn discuss the work in progress called the Red Sox bullpen, offensive production from unsung players, and the contributions of newcomer Marlon Byrd.

Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes. Find its archive here.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (11-11)
Aviles SS
Sweeney RF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ortiz DH
Ross LF
Saltalamacchia C
Byrd CF
Punto 3B
Pitching: LHP Felix Doubront (1-0, 4.09)

ATHLETICS (11-13)
Weeks 2B
Inge 3B
Reddick RF
Cespedes CF
Gomes LF
Suzuki C
Ka'Aihue 1B
Recker DH
Pennington SS
Pitching: RHP Jarrod Parker (0-0, 1.42)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN, MLB Network / WEEI

Athletics vs. Doubront: No Athletics hitters have faced Doubront.

Red Sox vs. Parker: No Red Sox hitters have faced Parker.

Stat of the day: The Red Sox lead baseball in runs scored (127) and are tied for last with the Twins in runs allowed (124).

Notes:The Sox have won seven of eight. ... Oakland has dropped three straight. ... Doubront has yet to get beyond six innings in his four starts. He has struck out 22 in 22 innings and allowed 22 hits. This will be his first career appearance against Oakland. ... Parker, the ninth overall pick of the 2007 draft, will be making his third major league appearances. He has allowed one run on 11 hits in 12 innings. Oakland obtained him from Arizona in a package of prospects for Trevor Cahill and Craig Breslow. This will be his second start of the season and his first career appearance against the Red Sox. ... Suzuki is a career .326 hitter against the Red Sox.

Song of the Day: "The Rain Came Down" by Steve Earle.

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff

Former Red Sox pitcher Dennis "Oil Can Boyd" who has a book coming out later this month, had some interesting things to say to ESPN's Buster Olney this evening on E:60 tonight at 7 p.m. ET. on ESPN.

On pitching in Oakland in 1986 after having smoked cocaine prior to the game

“I can remember-- goin' and lockin' myself up in the bathroom and smokin' some dope right there at the ballpark… And I had it under the bib of my cap, inside the crease inside of the cap. And when I was warmin' up in the ballgame-- third, fourth innin'-- it fell off my head…”

On not starting Game 7 of the 1986 World Series

“I had said to myself that if I wasn't pitchin' by the sixth innin' of the ballgame, I wouldn't pitch. And didn't care if we won or lost…”

On what he did after hearing he wouldn’t be starting Game 6 of the 1986 World Series

“…when John McNamara tell me that I'm not pitchin', I run right down the street to the (PU) crack house."

Olney asked, "If you were to meet Jackie Robinson in another life, what would you say to him?

Boyd: “Why'd you do this? I don't really think that Negro league baseball shoulda been broken up.”

Olney: "How come?

Boyd: “Because it was -- it was individuality … I'm not real thankful to Jackie at all because I'm me - my style of baseball, the way I played it in the major league transpired from the Negro leagues. So that's why people found that I was a hot dog or I was flamboyant.”