"Many people believed that Monday night's start might be an audition of sorts for Ben Sheets, with the trade deadline approaching, though the A's have expressed little interest so far in moving him.

Instead, the man gaining some notice in Oakland's 2-1 loss to Boston was Gabe Gross, in right field - a position temporarily unsettled with Ryan Sweeney going on the disabled list. (Rajai Davis is likely to move there when left fielder Conor Jackson returns from the DL.)

There were mixed results for Gross, who made a terrific throw in the sixth to nail Kevin Youkilis trying to go from first to third on a single to right by Adrian Beltre. "I didn't even think we had a shot," Sheets said of the play.

Gross then came up with runners on second and third and two outs in the seventh, and he popped up against Boston reliever Daniel Bard.

Sheets had another strong outing, potentially piquing interest. He allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings, and he's given up two runs, total, in his past 14 2/3 innings. Beltre's solo homer in the fourth provided the winning margin.

Another injury: Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff was scratched with lower-back stiffness, but manager Bob Geren said Kouzmanoff will be OK to go tonight."