OAKLAND, Calif. — Travis Shaw started at third base against the Oakland Athletics on Friday night, something that will become far less frequent with the team calling up top prospect Yoan Moncada.
Shaw responded the best way he could. He drove in five runs as the Sox rolled to a 16-2 victory.
Shaw was 3 for 5 with two doubles and a home run. The five RBIs matched his career high. David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez each drove in three runs.
The Red Sox have won three of four and with Toronto losing they are one game out of first place in the American League East.
Moncada entered the game in the seventh inning when Shaw moved to first base. He drew a walk in his first plate appearance and scored from first base when Shaw doubled.
Moncada then struck out in the ninth inning.
David Price allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings in his latest strong start. Price (14-8) is 5-0 with a 2.06 earned run average in his last five starts.
Price allowed both runs in the fourth inning as Oakland tied the score. The Sox came back with four runs in the fifth inning, all with two outs.
Every Sox starter had at least one hit and scored at least one run. They had 17 hits in all.
The Sox have won nine of their last 10 games against Oakland. They are 5-0 against the Athletics this season, scoring 56 runs.
Scott joins the fun
For two Red Sox players, Friday was their first time in a major league uniform.
One was Moncada, a 21-year-old sensation who played only two seasons in the minors before being called up. The Red Sox spent $63 million to sign him.
The other was lefthander Robby Scott, a 27-year-old who spent six seasons in the minors. He went undrafted out of Florida State after rarely pitching for two seasons and was discovered while pitching for the Yuma Scorpions and manager Jose Canseco in the independent — and now defunct — North American League.
“Before the GM in Yuma called me I was substitute teaching at my old high school and trying to find a job in pharmaceutical sales,’’ said Scott before the Red Sox pummeled the A’s.
Scott pitched the final inning Friday night, striking out the first two batters he faced in the big leagues.
Scott, who was given No. 72, wasn’t called up for sentimental reasons. He had a 2.54 earned run average in 32 games for Triple A Pawtucket and walked only 14 in 78 innings.
“His story is a great one,’’ manager John Farrell said. “The fact is he put together a very strong year at Pawtucket. His recall wasn’t a reward. We’re looking to see in this final month how we can be a little bit more equipped from the left side in the bullpen.’’
Of particular interest to the Red Sox is that lefthanders hit .147 against Scott in Triple A. Fernando Abad has not been effective as a lefthanded specialist since being obtained at the trade deadline and Scott could move into that role.
Scott has the right mentality for the job.
“Attacking the inside half of the plate, varying arm angles, and expanding [the strike zone] in, not just throwing but expanding in,’’ he said. “Going in with a little bit of authority.’’
Scott felt he earned his shot but wasn’t necessarily expecting it. Players with his background rarely catch a break.
“I wouldn’t say surprised but extremely grateful for the opportunity from the Red Sox,’’ he said. “I was lost for words, honestly.’’
Scott’s parents, Margie and Brian, flew in from Miami for the game along with some other family and friends.
Wright questionable
Steven Wright is questionable for his start against the Padres on Tuesday.
The knuckleballer still has soreness in his right shoulder, the result of diving back to second base when he was used as a pinch runner against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 6.
Wright landed on the disabled list and in his two starts since has allowed nine runs on 14 hits — four of them home runs — in only 10 innings.
“He’s still a little bit feeling some of the symptoms in the shoulder,’’ Farrell said. “These next 24-48 hours are probably going to be important in terms of what the rotation looks like in San Diego.’’
Clay Buchholz could return to the rotation but that Farrell said that decision isn’t needed yet.
Benintendi improves
Andrew Benintendi did some running for the first time since sprained his left knee on Aug. 24. He was not at full speed and it was only for a brief time, but Benintendi was moving well.
“Felt good,’’ he said. “Just taking it easy for now.’’
Benintendi will receive a custom-made brace on Monday or Tuesday and that should allow him to make cuts while running.
“He’s feeling better day-by-day. Still no time frame,’’ Farrell said.
Righthander Koji Uehara is scheduled to throw live batting practice on the field Saturday. If that goes well, he could be activated on Monday. Uehara has been out since July 19 with a strained pectoral muscle.
“That would be a big pick-me-up for us,’’ president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said.
Righthanded reliever Brad Ziegler, who missed several days with the flu, returned to the team. He threw in the bullpen before the game.
More moves
The Sox activated Ryan Hanigan off the 15-day disabled list.
He played four rehab games with Double A Portland and Single A Lowell, going 6 of 14 with four walks. Hanigan, 36, is in the final year of his contract. He has played only 83 games the last two seasons for the Sox, hitting .216.
But Hanigan has been conducive to winning. The Sox are 48-30 (.615) in games he has started the last two seasons, 21-6 this season. The team is 104-113 (.479) in games he has not started.
Righthander Joe Kelly was recalled from Pawtucket. He has appeared in only nine games for the Sox this season, six as a starter.
Kelly pitched well in nine relief appearances for Pawtucket after being optioned on Aug. 1. He allowed one earned run on six hits over 11 innings and struck out 16 with one walk.
The Sox also recalled infielder Deven Marrero.
He hit .198 with a .487 OPS in 96 games for Pawtucket but the Sox value his defensive versatility.
All three got into the game: Hanigan went 1 for 2 with a double, Kelly struck out two in a scoreless eighth, and Marrero struck out looking.
Ortiz honored
The Athletics held a brief ceremony before the game to honor Ortiz. Manager Bob Melvin and team president Michael Crowley presented Ortiz with a 3-liter bottle of wine . . . The teams were not allowed to take batting practice on the field before the game. The Oakland Raiders played two preseason games at Oakland Coliseum over six days, the second one on Thursday night. Portable stands sit on the outfield for football games and there were large patches of dirt as a result. The football yard lines remained visible on the field. “I’ve got to tell you, what the grounds crew was able to do since noon time is remarkable,’’ Farrell said. “It’s playable.’’ Oakland is the only team in the majors that shares its field with an NFL team.
Groome makes debut
Jay Groome, the team’s first-round pick in the June draft, made his debut with Single A Lowell. Pitching in Norwich, Conn., against the Connecticut Tigers, he gave up one run over 2⅔ innings. Groome did not allow any hits but walked four. He had two strikeouts . . . Radio play-by-play man Joe Castiglione will miss the first six games of the road trip recovering from the flu. He took sick Wednesday. Castiglione will return in Toronto next Friday . . . To make room for Scott on the 40-man roster, righthander William Cuevas was designated for assignment. He appeared in three games this season, going five innings in relief. Cuevas was 6-8 with a 4.19 ERA in 25 games for Pawtucket, 18 of them starts . . . The Athletics reinstated lefthander Sean Doolittle from the DL and recalled catcher Matt McBride from Triple A Nashville. Oakland also activated righthander Jesse Hahn and optioned him to Nashville. Hahn is a native of Groton, Conn.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.
