Brayan Bello didn't have it Thursday as the Sox fell to the A's 5-3 at Fenway Park. (AP file photo)

BOSTON (AP) — Brent Rooker homered in a three-run first inning and J.T. Ginn limited Boston to five hits over six innings on Thursday to lead the Athletics to a 5-3 victory over the Red Sox.

The A’s started the game with four straight hits, including Rooker’s two-run shot — his 30th of the season. Ginn (4-6) allowed two runs while walking one and striking out three.

Hogan Harris pitched two innings for his fourth save.

David Hamilton and Trevor Story each hit a solo homer for Boston, which lost for the fifth time in seven games. The Red Sox entered the day tied with Seattle for the third and final AL wild-card spot; Cleveland, which beat Detroit on Thursday, was 1 1/2 games back.

Brayan Bello (11-8) allowed four runs — three earned — on five hits and two walks while striking out three in four innings.

And now the AL playoff race is getting tighter for Boston, as the loss allows the Cleveland Guardians to crawl within 1½ games of Boston in the AL wild-card race.

The Red Sox are still in position for the third and final AL wild-card berth, but they fellto three games behind the Yankees in the race for home-field advantage in the first round.

“We control our own destiny,” manager Alex Cora said. “We’ve got to play better baseball. That’s it. There were signs today, but we’re not there yet.”

Boston has lost five of its last seven games to turn what had been a good shot at edging the Yankees into a chance of missing out completely. Cora noted that in 2021, their last playoff appearance, the Red Sox had to rally at the end of the season.

What did he learn from that season?

“Don’t get too high. Don’t get too low,” Cora said. “It’s 162 (games) for a reason.”

The Red Sox head to Tampa Bay for three games before three more in Toronto. They finish the season with a three-game series against the Tigers at Fenway Park.

Cora insisted that there is no panic in the Boston clubhouse. On Saturday, he raised eyebrows when he responded to questions about postseason lineup construction by saying: “I think we should stop talking about October, to be honest with you.”

“There’s a lot of stuff going on and we have to play better,” he said. “I’m not saying we’re in a bad spot. But we have to wait to see if October is part of this.”

Key moment

The A’s started things off with Lawrence Butler’s double off the Green Monster, Rooker’s home run, Nick Kurtz’s double and a run-scoring single from Tyler Soderstrom. Bello recorded his first out when Jacob Wilson grounded into a fielder’s choice, then JJ Bleday hit into a double play.

Key stat

Rooker’s homer gave the A’s three players with at least 30; he joined Kurtz (32) and Shea Langeliers (30). That ties a franchise record achieved four times, the last in 2019.

Up next

The A’s head to Pittsburgh, with RHP Luis Severino (6-11) scheduled to face RHP Mitch Keller (6-14) in the opener on Friday night.

The Red Sox begin a three-game series at Tampa Bay on Friday, with Garrett Crochet, Kyle Harrison and Connelly Early scheduled to pitch.