OAKLAND, CALIF. ? Derek Lowe’s finish was better than his start and that’s all that mattered for the Boston Red Sox.

Lowe settled down after a shaky start to pitch eight strong innings to lead Boston to its ninth straight win, 5-1, over Oakland on Thursday.

Boston's Derek Lowe delivers against Oakland. Lowe was the winning pitcher in Boston's 5-1 victory over the A's on Thursday in Oakland, Calif.

“I started off slow, but it got better as it went,” said Lowe, who won his fourth straight decision. “With this team, even if you give up a run, you just hang in there because you know someone will come up with a big hit.”

Jose Offerman and Shea Hillenbrand homered to lead the Red Sox to a three-game sweep of the A’s.

“It’s a good feeling to come out here and take three,” Boston manager Grady Little said. “There’s nothing easy about it.”

Lowe (5-1), two games removed from pitching a no-hitter, allowed one run and six hits. He walked two and struck out one. He retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced.

“I got into a little groove,” Lowe said. “You knew it was going to be a tough game because (Tim) Hudson doesn’t make many mistakes.”

Jermaine Dye drove in the only run for the A’s, who have lost seven of nine.

Hudson (3-4) lost for the fourth time in five decisions despite pitching into the seventh inning for the eighth time in as many starts. Hudson gave up four runs and five hits and a walk. He struck out five.

“They’re playing great baseball right now,” Hudson said. “They made the most of their hits and took advantage of my mistakes. They’re not a joke.”

The Red Sox (24-7), who have the best record in baseball, are off to their best start since going 25-6 in 1946 and their nine-game winning streak is the longest since a 12-gamer in August 1995.

“I knew we were a good club out of spring training,” Little said. “I’m not surprised at the way we’re playing. I’m a bit surprised at our record. We’re getting good results.”

Oakland, which fell to .500 for the first time since last July 7, took a 1-0 lead in the first after Randy Velarde singled with one out, stole second and scored on Dye’s single.

The Red Sox took over in the third. Lou Merloni singled and Rey Sanchez doubled to open the inning. After Johnny Damon hit a sacrifice fly, Offerman hit the next pitch for a two-run homer, his third of the season.

Hillenbrand hit his seventh homer, a solo shot in the fifth, to make it 4-1.

Lowe allowed one runner past second base after the first inning and was helped by an odd double play in the fourth.

Eric Chavez doubled to start the inning and went to third when Miguel Tejada grounded out. After Terrence Long walked, Ramon Hernandez hit a sharp grounder to Offerman at first. Chavez broke for the plate and was easily thrown out.

Hernandez tried to advance on the play, but Long had remained at second. Jason Varitek’s throw to Lowe, covering first, caught Hernandez off guard. He was eventually tagged out by Merloni after a brief rundown.

Rangers 4, White Sox 1

Arlington, Texas Fill-in starter Joaquin Benoit pitched six innings for his first career win and Hector Ortiz homered for the first time in Texas’ victory over Chicago.

Benoit (1-0) allowed one run and four hits, with three strikeouts and three walks. He retired the last 10 batters he faced, but left after 105 pitches.

Benoit was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma, where he was scheduled to pitch Thursday, after Ismael Valdes was scratched because of stiffness in his back. It was the second start in the majors for the 22-year-old Benoit.

Ortiz, the backup catcher to Bill Haselman while 10-time All-Star Ivan Rodriguez is on the disabled list, homered in the second inning in his 250th career at-bat to tie the game at 1-1.

Angels 7, Tigers 6

Anaheim, Calif. Troy Glaus hit a go-ahead double, and Anaheim converted two throwing errors by Detroit shortstop Shane Halter into four unearned runs. Aaron Sele (3-2) won his third straight start after spotting Detroit a 4-0 lead. The right-hander allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings and did not walk a batter, despite hitting two. Troy Percival pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save in six chances.

Yankees 3, Devil Rays 1

St. Petersburg, Fla. Orlando Hernandez pitched one-hit ball into the eighth inning, and Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi homered as New York sent Tampa Bay to its 14th straight loss.

The Devil Rays’ losing streak matches the longest in the major leagues since 1988. The Baltimore Orioles began that season by dropping an AL-record 21 consecutive games.

The Chicago Cubs also lost 14 straight April 1-20, 1997.

Late Wednesday game

Mariners 5, Blue Jays 4

Seattle Ichiro Suzuki scored on John Olerud’s grounder in the 10th inning for Seattle. With Suzuki on third and Bret Boone at second, Olerud hit a groundball to pulled-in second baseman Joe Lawrence, who tried to throw out the speedy Suzuki at the plate. But Suzuki slid and beat catcher Tom Wilson’s tag on a close play.