A`s back Cotton early, even series at Fenway
(MLB.com Oakland Athletics)

This time, Doug Fister couldn`t stop the bleeding in the first inning. And this time, the righty`s struggles carried later into the outing. The result for the Red Sox was a 7-3 loss to the Athletics on Wednesday night at Fenway Park that reduced Boston`s lead over the Yankees to three games in the American League East with 17 games left.