The Red Sox took a 4-0 lead in the second inning and the A's tied it in the third. Neither team scored again until the 10th.
Daric Barton singled with one out and advanced to second when plate umpire Bob Davidson called a balk on Ramon Ramirez (0-3). The Red Sox then intentionally walked Kurt Suzuki before Dustin Richardson came in and struck out Adam Rosales.
Kouzmanoff then lined a single to right field off Michael Bowden and Barton slid in safely ahead of J.D. Drew's throw home.
Andrew Bailey (1-3) pitched two innings for the win. A's relievers combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings.
Oakland left-hander Dallas Braden struggled in his first start back from the disabled list and was unable to make it out of the fifth inning.
That kept him winless in nine starts since throwing a perfect game against Tampa Bay on May 9 — the longest such streak ever after a perfect game, according to research by the Elias Sports Bureau. The previous long was eight winless starts by Mark Buehrle last season.
Braden was replaced after hitting J.D. Drew with a pitch to put runners on first and second with two outs in the fifth inning. Ross Wolf came on and walked Mike Cameron to load the bases before getting Bill Hall on a groundout.
Braden allowed four runs — one earned — and 10 hits.
The Red Sox loaded the bases again in the sixth when Wolf intentionally walked David Ortiz with one out. Michael Wuertz made the move pay off when he came in and struck out Kevin Youkilis and got Adrian Beltre on a groundout.
With Clay Buchholz set to come off the disabled list Wednesday and Josh Beckett ready to return two days later, Tim Wakefield's spot in Boston's rotation could be in jeopardy. He was unable to hold onto a 4-0 lead, allowing a two-run double to Jack Cust during Oakland's four-run third inning.
Wakefield lasted six innings, allowing three earned runs, three hits and three walks. At 43 years, 352 days, he was looking to become the oldest pitcher to win a game for the Red Sox, surpassing Dennis Eckersley by three days.
The Red Sox took a 4-0 lead after two innings despite having one runner thrown out at the plate and nearly a second caught on the bases. Ortiz was caught at home on a sharp relay from left fielder Rajai Davis to shortstop Cliff Pennington to Suzuki on Youkilis' RBI double in the first inning.
Then with a runner on second and one out in the second, Hall singled to right field. Gabe Gross made a strong throw home, forcing Cameron to stop at third. Suzuki then tried to catch Hall rounding too far past first, but his throw went into right field. Cameron scored and Hall advanced to second on the error.
Two-out RBI doubles by Marco Scutaro and Darnell McDonald increased the damage as Boston got three unearned runs in the second.
Notes
Eckersley got a win in relief against Baltimore on Sept. 17, 1998, at 43 years and 349 days. … Oakland's Coco Crisp snapped an 0-for-18 slump when he doubled in the third inning. He was ejected in the 10th for arguing balls and strikes with Davidson. … Davidson also ejected Boston pitching coach John Farrell for arguing a checked swing in the 10th. … Red Sox INF Jed Lowrie (mononucleosis) joined the team in the Bay Area and could be activated from the DL soon. … Boston C Victor Martinez (left thumb) did some catching drills and took swings from both sides before the game.