OAKLAND, Calif. -- There was a time earlier this season when the Boston Red Sox struggled to drive in runs with two outs. Suddenly, that seems like a long time ago. Dustin Pedroia hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the eighth inning, and the Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 4-2 on Friday night in a matchup between the ALs top teams. Brock Holt also drove in two runs -- and also with two outs -- in the second inning before the As rallied. Eleven of Bostons last 13 runs have come with two outs. "Theres no secret," said Pedroia, who also made a run-saving stop at second base to start a double play in the sixth. "Weve just been able to find ways to get that one pitch and make sure we dont miss it." John Lackey (7-6) overcame a season-high four walks in seven innings to carry the AL-leading Red Sox to their fourth straight victory. He allowed two runs and three hits while striking out five. He also hit a batter. Lackey improved to 19-6 against the As, even though this was far from his best performance. "This is probably one that says more about where Im at than anything," he said. "I probably didnt have my best stuff like I had my last few times out and still was able to do pretty good against a pretty good team." The As left six on base, while the Red Sox stranded five. John Jaso hit an RBI single in the fifth and Jed Lowrie added a tying home run in the sixth for Oakland, which remained a game ahead of Texas in the AL West. Sean Doolittle (3-3) allowed one hit and hit a batter before Ryan Cook gave up Pedroias two-out single. Andrew Bailey, a two-time All-Star closer for the As from 2009-2011, tossed a scoreless eighth. Koji Uehara pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save this season. Jarrod Parker regrouped after a sloppy second inning to retire his final 16 batters and put the As in position to come back. He gave up two runs and three hits in seven innings, striking out three and walking none. "I was moving the ball in and out and being able to get some early contact. That helped me go later into the game after a long inning like that," Parker said. The only runs off Parker came in an inning that featured two errors and a hit batter that also took out plate umpire CB Bucknor and caused a brief delay. Third baseman Josh Donaldsons errant throw to first allowed Mike Napoli to advance to second. Then Parkers pitch -- clocked at 92 mph -- grazed Daniel Nava and hit the right side of Bucknors mask. Bucknor went down on one knee and winced in pain. Second base umpire and crew chief Bill Miller replaced Bucknor behind the plate and the game resumed with three umpires. Holts two-out single gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. He advanced to third on the play when catcher Jaso threw the ball into right-centre field trying to nab him at second, but Parker never allowed another baserunner. The As offence finally got going when Seth Smith doubled off the wall in left leading off the fifth for the first hit against Lackey. After Coco Crisp walked, Jasos single sliced Bostons lead to 2-1. Crisp advanced to third when right fielder Shane Victorino bobbled Jasos hit. But Pedroia made a spectacular diving stop at second on Donaldsons grounder to start an inning-ending double play. "Thank God it landed in my glove, because if it didnt, it probably would have put a hole in my chest," Pedroia said of the hard-hit hopper. Lowrie sent a 1-0 cutter from Lackey over the wall in right for the tying shot in the sixth. It was Lowries seventh home run this season. Victorino was hit on the base of his right thumb by Doolittle to put runners on first and third in the seventh. After Victorino stole second uncontested, Pedroia singled to left against Cook to put Boston back in front. "Just another very go overall win on our part," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. NOTES: The Red Sox acquired reliever Matt Thornton and cash from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league outfielder Brandon Jacob. ... Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz (neck strain) threw about 30 pitches in a bullpen session Friday. The rehab assignment he had been scheduled to make Sunday will now just be another bullpen session. Farrell said Bucholz will throw a simulated game at some point and make just one rehab start instead of the two originally planned. ... Brandon Workman, who allowed three earned runs in two innings in his major league debut in Wednesdays 11-4 win at Seattle, will make his first start in Sundays series finale at Oakland, Farrell said. ... INF Adam Rosales, who the As designated for assignment Monday, cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Sacramento. ... Lefty John Lester (8-5, 4.60 ERA) starts for the Red Sox against Oaklands A.J. Griffin (7-6, 3.94 ERA) on Saturday. LONDON -- Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has been charged by German prosecutors with paying a $44 million bribe, placing his future as head of the motor sport series in doubt. The 82-year-old British billionaire has been under investigation since a German banker was convicted of taking the payment from him in connection with the sale of a stake in F1. The Munich state court said Ecclestone has until mid-August to respond to charges of bribery and incitement to breach of trust in connection with Gerhard Gribkowskys management of the bank BayernLBs 47 per cent stake in F1. Ecclestone, the longtime commercial head of F1, acknowledged during Gribkowskys trial in 2011 that he made the payment five years earlier but said he was pressured to do so. Ecclestones indictment was dated on May 10 and has since been translated into English and delivered to Ecclestone and his lawyers, the court said. "The lawyers have accepted an indictment," Ecclestone told The Associated Press. "It means they have to reply to the indictment, which they are strenuously doing." Ecclestone, whom Forbes magazine reports is worth $3.8 billion, said he is yet to read the indictment. "They are alleging I bribed someone," Ecclestone said, while insisting he did "nothing illegal." Sentences in Germany for bribery range from three months to 10 years in prison. CVC Capital Partners, the investment group that has owned F1s commercial rights since 2006, issued no direct comment Wednesday about the future of Ecclestone. "Mr. Ecclestone has six weeks to provide a response to this bill of indictment prior to a decision being made by the court on opening proceedings," the board of Formula One Group said in a statement. "The board will continue to monitor developments in this situation accordingly.dddddddddddd" Ecclestone was retained as chief executive of F1 by CVC after it took control of the sport following the takeover that sparked the bribery case. Gribkowsky was in charge of selling BayernLBs stake in F1 to CVC. In addition to taking the money from Ecclestone, Gribkowsky used BayernLBs funds to pay the F1 chief a commission of $41.4 million and agreed to pay a further $25 million to Bambino Trust, a company with which Ecclestone was affiliated, prosecutors said during the trial in 2011. Ecclestone told the court he deserved a commission for the sale, saying "I did a very, very good job." On Wednesday, he told the AP: "They wanted money. I was shaken down by the guys. Its happened in life before." Gribkowsky, who has largely admitted the charges, was sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison after being found guilty last year of corruption, tax evasion and breach of trust. Ecclestones German lawyers, Sven Thomas and Norbert Scharf, said they will soon submit a "comprehensive response" to the court -- and the central issue in that response will be "the varying confessions of Mr. Gribkowsky." Ecclestone was savvy in building his power base in F1 from the 1970s and helped to create the Formula One Constructors Association that controlled the business side of the sport, including selling the TV rights. The British-based company later became known as Formula One Management. It has fought regular tussles with the teams over finances, but has retained control of global motor racing extravaganza. CVC, having amassed a 63 per cent stake of F1, has reduced its holding as other investors have come on board in recent years, although a planned flotation has stalled. Ecclestones holding has been diluted to about 5 per cent. Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '