Red Sox battle A's, remain 'patient' with injured Wilyer Abreu

Although the Boston Red Sox could use additional offense for Thursday afternoon's game against the visiting Athletics, it doesn't look as if right fielder Wilyer Abreu will be available.

Abreu, who has 22 home runs and 69 RBIs this season, has been on the injured list since Aug. 21 due to right calf tightness. He faced live pitching Monday and took part in other baseball activities Wednesday, but Boston manager Alex Cora said he doesn't expect Abreu will be activated from the 10-day IL in time to play in Thursday's game.

"Doesn't look like it will be (Thursday)," Cora said. "So we just have to be patient.

"Sunday was a heavy day for him running-wise. Monday, he wasn't tight but it was sore. And it's still a little sore. So we have to be careful. We don't want any setbacks. So when he goes, it's a full-go."

Cora added that he hopes Abreu will be available when Boston (83-69) plays at Tampa Bay this weekend.

Thursday's matchup will be the decisive contest of a three-game series. The Athletics (71-81) won the opener 2-1 Tuesday before the Red Sox prevailed 5-4 in 10 innings on Wednesday.

Boston and the Seattle Mariners reside 2 1/2 games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians in the race for the final wild-card spot in the American League.

"Our plan is to play in the playoffs, and we'll take all the (wins) we can, regardless of whether they're pretty or ugly," Cora said. "(Tuesday) was kind of dead. ... Today the urgency was there from the get-go."

The Red Sox were 3-for-17 with runners in scoring position and stranded 13 runners Wednesday after going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position in Tuesday's loss. Boston is 7-for-38 with runners in scoring position during the first five contests of their six-game homestand.

"We hit some balls hard today," Cora said. "We did a better job. We're getting there. I think the bullpen, after the fifth, (was) really good. We played good defense. It was a good one."

The Athletics will send right-hander J.T. Ginn (3-6, 4.69 ERA) to the mound on Thursday.

Ginn was pulled from Friday's 3-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds with one out in the fifth inning because of a cramp in his right calf. He struck out six, scattered two hits and didn't allow a run before he left that game.

Ginn will face Boston for the first time in his career.

Right-hander Brayan Bello (11-7, 3.25 ERA) is scheduled to start for Boston. He is 1-1 with a 9.42 ERA in three career starts against the Athletics.

Wednesday's loss ended the Athletics' five-game winning streak.

"I think our guys have shown up both nights," Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. "We had a chance to win tonight. This is a good baseball team across the way. They're gonna be a playoff baseball team, and for us to compete and to really have a chance to win the game on back-to-back nights. ... We'll come out tomorrow and we'll fight.

"I think our guys have really shown growth throughout the season, especially the past couple weeks."

--Field Level Media