OAKLAND, Calif., May 9 (UPI) -- Jason Varitek and Nomar Garciaparra combined for nine RBI Wednesday night as the Boston Red Sox crushed the Oakland Athletics, 12-6, for their eighth consecutive victory.
Varitek started the scoring in the second of the second inning with a three-run homer Erik Hiljus (3-2). After Miguel Tejada got Oakland to within 3-2 with his sixth home run of the season in the bottom of the inning, the Red Sox erupted for seven runs in the third.
Tony Clark had an RBI double, Varitek delivered a two-run single, Rickey Henderson drew a bases-loaded walk and Garciaparra cleared the bases with a double.
Boston, which led by at least six runs thereafter, finished with 29 baserunners, a season-high 19 hits, and 10 walks.
John Burkett (3-0) yielded three runs and four hits over six innings for the win, the 8,000th in the team's storied history.
Hiljus, who had won his previous three decisions, was shelled for eight runs and six hits in just 2 1/3 innings.
The Red Sox, who own baseball's best record at 23-7, improved to 15-2 away from Fenway Park. It's the best road record to begin a season since Detroit won its first 17 away from home in 1984 on the way to an eventual World Series championship.
Boston improved to 6-0 on its 10-game road trip.
