OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jed Lowrie and Khris Davis hit first-inning homers to spoil Hector Velazquez's major league debut and the Oakland Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 8-3 on Thursday night.
Chad Pinder added a homer in the fourth inning against Velazquez (0-1), who had a rough first start after spending his first seven years as a pro in the Mexican League.
Sonny Gray (1-1) overcame a shaky beginning to get the win in his 100th career start. After allowing two runs in a 31-pitch first, Gray settled down and gave up just one more run the rest of the way, while striking out eight in six innings.