Ramirez Powers Red Sox

Manny Ramirez provided a powerful lift to Boston’s struggling offense.

One night after he forced in the winning run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, he won Saturday night’s game in a more conventional way. His tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning and two runs batted in gave the Red Sox a 2-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

“I think Manny wants to be the man,” Johnny Damon said. “He almost stepped in the bucket, mis-hit it and still hit it 450 feet. It’s amazing to watch.”

But the Red Sox still aren’t hitting like the team that leads the majors with a .280 batting average. They have scored 21 runs in their last seven games and have gotten by on strong pitching. Bronson Arroyo gave up one run and three hits in seven innings.

“We just want to be one run better, whether it’s 11-10 or 2-1,” Manager Terry Francona said. “That’s all that really matters.”

They’ve done that for a long stretch at Fenway Park, where they’ve won the last 14 games decided by one run. Saturday’s win kept their American League East lead at 1 1/2 games over the New York Yankees.

Oakland is struggling in its stretch run toward the playoffs. The A’s trail the Angels by two games in the AL West and are five games behind Cleveland in the wild-card race.

Arroyo (13-9) and Dan Haren (13-11) were locked in a 1-1 duel when Ramirez came up with one out in the sixth. He drove the first pitch onto the street behind the Green Monster in left field for his 36th homer and 125th RBI.

Ramirez also drove in a run with a single in the first inning.

“We had some chances today, but when it comes down to it, it’s the pitch I made to Ramirez,” Haren said. “I just look back at it and I’m mad at myself. I let that pitch get away from me. The loss is because of me.”

Haren gave up two runs and seven hits in seven innings.