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A's top Red Sox 4-2

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Scott Kazmir pitched seven innings to win his fourth straight start, Yoenis Cespedes hit his 14th home run of the season and the Oakland Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 on Thursday night.

Stephen Vogt had two hits and two RBIs, Jed Lowrie scored twice and John Jaso singled in an insurance run in the seventh to move the A's a season-high 17 games over .500. It's the best record in the majors and continued Oakland's best start since 1990.

Kazmir (9-2) went into the game with the second-lowest ERA among qualifiers in the AL and extended his streak to 18 1-3 innings without allowing an earned run before Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run home run in the sixth. He struck out eight and didn't walk a batter.

Cespedes had not homered against the Red Sox until his two-out, solo shot off Jake Peavey in the third.