Athletics 6, Red Sox 2: Stephen Drew and Seth Smith homered and Brett Anderson tossed six strong innings as host Oakland completed a three-game sweep by posting its ninth straight win.

Anderson (3-0) won his third consecutive start since returning from Tommy John surgery, giving up one run on five hits. Oakland, which leads the race for the first wild-card spot, remained three games behind American League West-leading Texas.

The Athletics have won nine in a row for the first time since a 10-game run in June 2006, when they last reached the postseason. With wins in 15 of its last 17 contests, Oakland has moved a season-high 19 games over .500.

Oakland, which outscored Boston 33-5 in the three-game series, jumped on the Red Sox in the first when Smith belted a two-run homer off Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-4).

Drew added a solo blast in the second and the Athletics extended their lead with two runs in the third on Josh Reddick’s sacrifice fly and Drew’s RBI single.

Matsuzaka was charged with six runs over 3 2/3 innings for the Red Sox, who have been outscored 54-15 over the first six games of their nine-game road trip against the Angels and Athletics.

Boston's best hope for a big inning came in the sixth, when Cody Ross singled with the bases loaded to score Pedro Ciriaco. But Scott Podsednik was easily erased at home on a perfect throw by left fielder Yoenis Cespedes.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Red Sox have lost seven straight road contests. … Oakland announced 3B Brandon Inge will undergo season-ending surgery on his right shoulder later this week. … Boston OF Jacoby Ellsbury was unavailable due to a sore right wrist. … Drew’s homer was his first with Oakland since being traded by Arizona on Aug. 20. … The Athletics won the season series 8-1. ... Oakland has scored 60 runs in their last six games.