The Red Sox failed to heed our advice in two-thirds of our three keys laid out prior to a losing series in Oakland.
They let Coco Crisp get on base far too often, and once he was on he ran like the wind. It helped the A's take two of three and further dim Boston's playoff chances.
Here are a few more items to take from the Sox' final trip to Oakland this season.
Kalishious
The all-around game of Ryan Kalish was on full display throughout the series. He was 3-for-9 with three RBIs, including two to put the Sox ahead in the finale, and had a home run taken away from him on the first at-bat of the series.
The 22-year-old, who has 10 RBIs in his last nine games, also showcased his exceptional arm by nailing the speedy Crisp trying to advance from second to third on a fly ball to center.
Kalish is batting .321 (9-for-28) in September.
Missed Opportunity
Many have already written off the Red Sox in the playoff hunt but if they just played slightly above .500 baseball in the past week or so they might be right back in it.
Tampa Bay has lost five of eight and New York has dropped six of its last seven, including all three at Texas over the weekend. With six games remaining with the Yankees the Sox have to try to get within six or so to have a chance in the event of a sweep of those games, however unlikely that is.
Dropping two of three in Oakland, including one in which it led in the seventh inning, doesn't help the cause. Boston remains eight games back in the loss column behind both teams.
Oakland is a Pit
We jest, of course. But Boston's visits to Oakland-Alameda Coliseum have not made the club want to stay around town.
The Sox have lost 17 of their last 24 games in Oakland. This weekend represented their fourth straight losing series in the Coliseum, including two this year.
