Oakland, CA (My Sportsbook) - Gabe Kapler went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and finished with three RBI and Kevin Millar ended 3-for-3 with a homer, walk and three runs scored in Boston's 7-1 victory over Oakland at the Coliseum.

Johnny Damon added a solo shot and Orlando Cabrera drove in two runs with a double for the Red Sox, who have won 19 of their last 21 games. Boston remains 2 1/2 games behind New York for first place in the American League East and four games in front of second place Anaheim in the AL wild card race.

Derek Lowe (14-10) threw 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball for the win. Lowe, who won his fifth straight start, allowed just five hits and walked four.

"The four walks didn't help," said Lowe. "But I just tried to hang in there. (Boston's defense) made every play to keep the momentum in our favor."

Eric Byrnes had two hits for Oakland, which has lost three straight and now leads the AL West by 1 1/2 games over Anaheim.

Damon hit the second pitch of the game from A's starter Mark Redman over the right field wall to give Boston a quick 1-0 lead.

Millar led off the second with a double and Kapler homered with two outs to extend the Boston lead to 3-0.

The A's got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Erubiel Durazo doubled and scored from third when Damian Miller grounded into a double play.

Boston increased its lead to 6-1 with three runs in the visitors' sixth. Jason Varitek doubled with one out and Redman walked Millar before both runners scored on a double by Cabrera. Justin Duchscherer relieved Redman with two outs and surrendered an RBI single to Kapler.

Millar homered off Duchscherer with two outs in the eighth inning to give Boston its final 7-1 advantage.

Alan Embree, Mike Myers and Curtis Leskanic combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings out of the Boston bullpen.

Redman (10-11) was charged with the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings.

"It definitely works in your favor if you think you have the other team's number," said Redman referring to Boston's 7-1 advantage in the season series. "But we could meet them in the playoffs and that could be our time," Redman added.