A’s Out of the Fire but Into Frye Pan

Jeff Frye broke an eighth-inning tie with his third hit of the game as the Red Sox, who blew a three-run lead, rallied to beat the Athletics, 4-3, on Tuesday night.

Scott Hatteberg doubled off Buddy Groom with one out in the eighth. Aaron Small relieved Groom (1-2) and got pinch-hitter Shane Mack to ground out, with Hatteberg moving to third.

After Darren Bragg was intentionally walked, Frye bounced one up the middle to score Hatteberg. Bragg was out at the plate on Nomar Garciaparra’s single to end the inning.

It was the sixth victory in seven games for the last-place Red Sox. Oakland lost for the fourth consecutive game, dropping 21 games below .500 for the first time this season.

Butch Henry (3-2) earned the victory, allowing one hit in 1 1/3 innings. Heathcliff Slocumb pitched the ninth for his 16th save--and his fifth in his last five opportunities.

Groom pitched one inning and allowed one hit. Frye doubled and scored on John Valentin’s single in the third to make it 1-0. The Red Sox made it 3-0 when Bragg tripled home Wilfredo Cordero in the third, then scored on Frye’s single.

But Frye was thrown out trying to score on Garciaparra’s double, ending the inning.

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NEXT SERIES FOR ANGELS

WHO: Boston Red Sox

WHERE: at Boston

WHEN: Friday: 4 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m., Sunday: 10 a.m.