The Boston Red Sox took game one of their three-game set against the Oakland Athletics last night in extra innings. The Red Sox will look to build on yesterday's win by sending Garrett Richards to the mound. He has posted a 4.96 ERA this season with 67 strikeouts and 39 walks in 81.2 innings. Oakland is looking to turn things around, before last night's loss they had dropped two of three to Texas. The A's will counter with Cole Irvin taking the mound. This season, he has posted a 3.64 ERA with 68 strikeouts and 17 walks in 94 innings.

Boston has won four of Richard's five starts despite him not pitching well in June. You have to wonder if the nonuse of "sticky stuff" has affected him. Boston has scored at least six runs in each of Richard's wins. He has pitched well against Oakland, going 6 shutout innings in an 8-1 win back on May 13. Boston has won seven in a row while Oakland has lost four of their last six. I think Richards pitches well enough and the Sox bats will score enough for the win at plus money.

Play on Boston.