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Game Preview: Athletics At Red Sox

(AP) - Manager Bob Melvin isn't fretting over the Oakland Athletics possessing the worst record in the AL, especially with his club in the midst of a hot stretch.

The A's could find themselves out of the cellar soon if the starting rotation continues its solid pace.

Oakland looks for a fifth straight victory when it sends Scott Kazmir to the mound in the opener of a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Fenway Park.

Melvin isn't exactly guaranteeing a fourth consecutive playoff appearance for the A's (23-33), but he seemed optimistic they can turn things around after Thursday's 7-5 victory completed a three-game sweep at Detroit.

Billy Butler and Josh Phegley drove in two runs for Oakland, which has won six of seven.

"We're just trying to play good (and) win as many games as we can," Melvin said. "We're about trying to climb toward .500, and then worry about where we are in the standings."

Oakland's longest winning streak of the season has been anchored by the starting rotation, which has a 1.36 ERA over a 9-3 stretch. Its 3.10 ERA on the season is the best in the AL after Jesse Hahn gave up one run in seven innings Thursday.

"Certainly, the starting pitching was good again. We got some big hits, added on when we needed to," Melvin said. "That's our first sweep this year, so it feels good."

What hasn't been good is Oakland's defense, which has committed a major league-high 54 errors that have led to a baseball-worst 31 unearned runs. The A's haven't committed one in three games during their winning streak, though, a trend Kazmir hopes continues in his return.

Kazmir (2-3, 2.93 ERA) hasn't started since leaving after three scoreless innings of a 3-2 loss to Detroit on May 27. He's been experiencing tightness in his left shoulder, but an MRI revealed no structural damage.

Kazmir has allowed more than three earned runs once in 10 starts but hasn't picked up a victory since winning his first two outings. He allowed two runs and four hits in six innings against Boston on May 11 before the A's fell 5-4 in 11.

Kazmir has pitched well in each of his last two starts against the Red Sox, though both were in Oakland. He's 0-1 with an 8.16 ERA in his last three outings at Fenway Park, which was the site of the Red Sox's latest blunder Thursday.

Boston (24-31) fell 8-4 to Minnesota, as Pablo Sandoval's error in the top of the ninth led to four runs that broke the tie. The Red Sox have committed three errors three times in their last six games.

"That was a poor display of baseball today," manager John Farrell said. "Those situations are addressed individually, it's addressed collectively, and we will continue to do so."

Wade Miley (4-5, 4.97) committed an error Saturday and allowed six runs - five earned - in four-plus innings of an 8-0 loss to Texas. Miley had won his previous three outings with a 1.25 ERA, a stretch that began when he gave up five hits in 6 2-3 innings of a 2-0 win at Oakland on May 13.

"My tempo wasn't good," the left-hander said. "I tried to slow myself down to make some adjustments. Just was never able to."

Oakland catcher Stephen Vogt hopes to play after leaving in the ninth inning Thursday with a right leg cramp suffered chasing a foul pop while playing first base for the fifth time this season.

Updated June 4, 2015

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