OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Nobody in the Oakland clubhouse could

remember the Athletics' last lopsided win.

They beat Tampa Bay by five runs on April 10, but every victory

since had been a challenge until the A's routed the World Series

champions Wednesday.

Eric Chavez hit a three-run homer, David Wells flopped in his

first start in three weeks and the A's defeated the Boston Red Sox

13-6 to win the three-game series. Oakland had dropped its previous

four series since taking two of three from Seattle from April

29-May 1.

"It's been a while since we've done that," Chavez said of the

slugfest. "We've had a lack of production at the plate, and now

we're starting to swing the bats better."

Seth Etherton (1-0), called up from Triple-A Sacramento on

Sunday to make his first major league appearance since 2003,

pitched 7 1/3 strong innings a day before his wife was scheduled to

deliver their first child -- and an Oakland starting pitcher got

plenty of run support for a change.

The right-hander retired 15 of the first 17 Boston batters,

allowing a leadoff homer to Jason Varitek in the third. Mark

Bellhorn hit a solo shot of his own to start the sixth for the Red

Sox, who have lost three of four and four of six.

The A's batted around in the first two innings. By then, every

starter but Keith Ginter had a hit, though he had contributed a

sacrifice fly and a walk.

Eric Byrnes had four hits and scored three runs, and Jason

Kendall, Scott Hatteberg and Mark Ellis each had three of Oakland's

19 hits. Mark Kotsay had a two-run double and Chavez drove in four

runs as Oakland established season highs for hits and runs.

"I don't remember the last time we coasted to a win like

this," said Byrnes, batting .550 (11-for-20) during his current

five-game hitting streak. "This feels great."

The A's reached double figures in runs for the first time all

year -- they were the only team in the majors that hadn't scored 10

or more in a game.

This is a whirlwind week for Etherton, who hadn't pitched in the

majors since losing a start for Cincinnati on Sept. 17, 2003, at

Pittsburgh.

After the game, he was headed straight to the airport to return

home to Laguna Beach, Calif., where his wife, Summer, will be

induced Thursday ahead of her May 24 due date. Their son will be

named Duke Michael -- after Duke Snider -- and the team is letting

Etherton stay home until Sunday.

"It's a big week," Etherton said. "Now it's time to get

nervous."

Etherton retired his first six batters on 22 pitches before

allowing Varitek's eighth homer. His 7 1/3 innings matched his

career high and he received a warm ovation when he left after

allowing three straight baserunners.

"Maybe he'll hit the lottery," manager Ken Macha said.

"Things happen in threes, don't they?"

Tim Harikkala relieved and gave up a two-run double to Kevin

Youkilis, an RBI single to Jay Payton and Trot Nixon's RBI single.

The A's quickly staked Etherton to a 4-0 lead, welcoming back

Wells (2-4) with six hits in the left-hander's 26-pitch first

inning. Wells was done after 1 1/3 innings, his shortest outing

since June 8, 2001, with the Chicago White Sox when he faced five

Cubs batters without getting an out.

"I didn't come close to helping out today," Wells said. "It's

one of those days you want to find a hole and crawl in it. But I'll

be back out there. ... A bad day is a bad day, and there's nothing

you can do about it."

The A's tagged Wells for seven runs and nine hits in his sixth

start of the year and first since April 25 because of a sprained

right foot.

Kotsay tested Wells right away, bunting for a leadoff single.

Byrnes and Kendall followed with singles to load the bases. Chavez

drove in a run on a fielder's choice, and Ginter hit a sacrifice

fly.

Hatteberg followed with an RBI double off the wall in

right-center, then Erubiel Durazo singled in a run to make it 4-0.

By the end of the second, Etherton had a 9-0 lead.

Chavez homered in the second for his second in two days, fourth

of the year and No. 167 of his career, tying him with Rickey

Henderson for sixth place in Oakland history.

When Chavez is hitting, it seems to affect the entire offense.

"That was nice," Ellis said. "It was good to finally break

out and score some runs. Wells is a good pitcher. We had a lot of

two-out hits."Game notes
Oakland's 13 runs were the second-most allowed by Boston

this season. The Red Sox gave up 14 last Friday at Seattle. ... A's

closer Octavio Dotel flew to Los Angeles to have his troublesome

elbow examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum, the Angels' team physician.

Macha didn't expect to announce any results until Friday. ... Red

Sox RHP Curt Schilling, on the disabled list with a bruised right

ankle and wearing a protective boot, will be examined Friday back

in Boston. ... Red Sox SS Edgar Renteria got the day off.