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BOSTON -- Dustin Pedroia spent the first month of the season just one home run shy of 100 in his career. Pedroia reached the milestone with a little panache, hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning and propelling the Boston Red Sox to a 7-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night. "I was pretty excited to hit a home run. Its been a while," said Pedroia, who had gone 160 at-bats without one. The skid ended when the Red Sox truly needed it, clinging to a 2-1 lead on a night when both clubs were failing to drive in runs. Pedroia drove an 0-2 pitch out to left field in the sixth inning for his second career grand slam and first homer since Sept. 17. "Honestly, I was just trying to drive one run in," Pedroia said. "As a team, weve been scuffling a little bit with guys on." The grand slam put Boston up 6-1 and the cushion was plenty for Clay Buchholz (2-2), who shut down the team with the top record in the American League. Buchholz pitched 6 1-3 innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out five. He walked three and got himself out of several jams as the As left five on base and were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position against Buchholz. "We hit some balls hard. We hit a lot of balls hard, actually -- right at people and then didnt get some hits when we did have some guys on base," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. John Jaso scored Oaklands only run, coming in on a wild pitch after leading off the third with a triple. Boston was having its own struggles with runners on before Pedroia came through in the sixth off of reliever Ryan Cook. Xander Bogaerts and A.J. Pierzynski started the sixth with back-to-back singles off Dan Otero, who began the inning. Otero struck out Will Middlebrooks, then walked Bradley to load the bases with one out. Cook relieved Otero and got Pedroia down 0-2, before he cleared the bases with a shot that just cleared the Green Monster. As manager Bob Melvin challenged whether the ball cleared the yellow line before a fan touched it and lost the appeal. The milestone homer put him in elite Red Sox company as only the second player in franchise history with 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases. Pedroia, who stole his 121st career base in the first inning, joins Carl Yastrzemski (452 home runs, 168 steals). "They told me that after the game. Thats crazy," Pedroia said. "I guess Im getting old. But just having your name anywhere said with his is an accomplishment." Boston hadnt scored since getting a pair of runs in the second inning off starter Dan Straily (1-2). Grady Sizemore led off with a double and scored on Pierzynskis single with one out. Jackie Bradley Jr. added a two-out double to drive in Pierzynski and Boston led 2-0. Straily pitched 4 1-3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out three and walked three. "I felt like every single time, every batter I was behind 2-0. Thats just not the way to pitch," Straily said. "Its just a frustrating day." Bradley ended a potential rally for the As in the eighth with a leaping catch at the centre field wall, then hitting Pedroia with a strong relay throw. Pedroia threw to Mike Napoli as Josh Donaldson scrambled to get back after rounding second before seeing Bradley make the catch. Notes: The series continues Saturday afternoon with Boston LHP Jon Lester (2-4) scheduled to face Oakland lefty Tommy Milone (0-2). .. Oakland played its first game in May after tying the franchise record for wins in April at 18-9. ... Buchholz allowed 12 runs on 20 hits over 6 2-3 innings in his first two starts at Fenway Park this season. ... Boston rookie SS Xander Bogaerts has reached safely in 14 straight games. ... Boston C A.J. Pierzynski was played his 1,700th career game behind the plate. ... Pedroia could catch Yastrzemskis steal total of 168, but Yazs 452 homers are probably out of reach for Bostons pesky second baseman. 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Both sides came closest to scoring in the first half, when Roma had a goal from Mattia Destro waved off for offside and Inters Rodrigo Palacio headed high. "A draw was a fair result. Neither squad had many chances," Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic said.PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins are continually refining their game with the playoffs approaching. They looked ready Monday night. Marc-Andre Fleury robbed former Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson with a sparkling third-period glove save and James Neal scored at 3:05 of overtime, giving the Penguins a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators 2-1. "I just tried to get my leg, my glove over there and try to stop it," Fleury said. "I was glad it went in my glove." Neal netted his 18th of the season and his first goal in nine games for the Penguins, who won for the 16th time in 17 home games and are now 23-4 at Consol Energy Center. Pittsburgh also avoided back-to-back regulation losses for the first time since dropping three straight in early November. "When you dont score you sometimes try to pick corners and be a little too cute," Neal said. "I was able to find one tonight. It was a good feeling." Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson stopped Robert Bortuzzo from the slot in overtime, but the rebound popped out to Neal, who dragged the puck around a Senators defender before dumping a shot past an out-of-position Anderson and into an empty net. "I was trying to be patient with the puck and wait for an opening," Neal said. "I knew their D-man was going to go down and Anderson was kind of far out when (Bortuzzo) got the puck to the net." Ottawas Stephane Da Costa and Pittsburghs Brian Gibbons scored in the first period. Ottawas best chance to take the lead in regulation came midway through the third period, but Fleury robbed Karlsson with a dazzling glove save. Fleury, while pushing from post to post, reached high above the cross bar, snagging the fluttering wrist shot from Karlsson, who had a partially wide open net to shoot at. "I dont know if theres a save that beats it," Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma said. "It was going high to the right corner and he had to get up there and get it. "It was an open cage, he pushes over, and gets the glove up to make the save. I hope we see this one over and over again." Karlsson might see it in his sleep. The Senators leading scorer fell to the ice in astonishment after Fleurys stop. "I just smiled at him," Karlsson said. "Theres nothing I can really say. He knows he made a good save and unfortunately Im going to be on the highlights for quite some time with that one." Fleury stopped 24 shots for his league-leading 30th win of the season, while Anderson turned aside 46 shots for the hard-luck loss. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who leads thhe NHL with 75 points, was held without a point and hasnt scored a goal in five games, his longest drought since a seven-game slump earlier this season.dddddddddddd "Hes 100 per cent," Bylsma said. "He was our best player on both sides of the puck and I thought he played an excellent game regardless of whether he got a point or not." The Penguins, who lead the Eastern Conference with 80 points, went 6-3-1 their previous 10 games, looking dominant during impressive wins against Montreal and Los Angeles but struggling in losses against Edmonton, Florida, Dallas, and Phoenix, all teams out of playoff contention. The Senators handed the Penguins arguably their worst loss of the season Dec. 23 in Ottawa, shutting them out 5-0 in a physical contest that saw Pittsburgh forward Pascal Dupuis tear his anterior cruciate ligament on a hit from Marc Methot. Ottawa, in the mix for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot, allowed three goals in the final 5:58 during a 6-3 loss at Toronto on Saturday, the second time in four games the Senators allowed six goals. The improved, hardened defensive effort Monday was certainly enough to help the Senators a win but they couldnt take advantage of their opportunities. "We played hard," Anderson said. "We gave ourselves the opportunity to be there. Just unfortunate we didnt come out with two points." Ottawa broke through at 5:56 of the first period, Da Costa scoring his third of the season after he lifted a short-side wrist shot over Fleurys shoulder from the top of the crease. Ottawas Zack Smith took a boarding call 29 seconds later and the leagues top power-play unit capitalized with the man advantage winding down, tying the game after Gibbons tipped Olli Maattas shot from the point past Anderson. That was all until Neals goal in the overtime won it for Pittsburgh. NOTES: Penguins D Kris Letang, who leads the team defensively with 10 goals, missed his third straight game with an undisclosed illness. ... Penguins F Taylor Pyatt left with a lower body injury after the games first shift. ... Pittsburgh is 14-1 at home when it registers at least one power-play goal. The Penguins penalty kill is perfect in a season-high nine straight home games dating back to Dec. 19. ... Ottawa concludes a three-game road trip Tuesday at St. Louis, while Pittsburgh visits Buffalo on Wednesday. ... Ottawa D Chris Phillips missed his fourth straight game with a lower body injury, while Matt Kassian and Joe Corvo also sat out for the Senators. Forwards Andrew Ebbett and Jayson Megna were healthy scratches for Pittsburgh. ' ' '