How Parker made history against Boston

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OAKLAND -- If you haven't heard of Ferdie Schupp, no one will blame you. After all, he pitched for the New York Giants from 1913 to 1919 with his last game coming in 1922. It is what Schupp did during the years of 1914-1917 that is the reason for this brief history lesson. You see, in 2012, a 23-year-old rookie pitcher named Jarrod Parker accomplished something last done by this Schupp fellow. Parker has allowed one run or less in 10 of his first 14 career starts. Schupp did that too, but he had some relief appearances mixed in. Between the years of 1918 to 2012 no one else has done it though. That's a 94-year gap. "It's cool. It's obviously something I never thought of," Parker said. "It's fun to look at, and obviously I'm honored to be compared to those guys."Parker obviously hasn't heard of Ferdie Schupp either. He deserves a pass, though. While we the media pour over his stats, he is out on the mound compiling them. "You guys add all those things up and it does make some sense that it has been a remarkable run," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "Hopefully he keeps on doing it." Parker is 4-1 with a 1.71 ERA over his last eight starts. In defeating the Red Sox on Monday, earning his fifth win, he has now beaten Boston twice. His first career win came against them on July 1. Even the historically excellent Parker can't win without run support. He had plenty on Monday. Josh Reddick hit a loud game-tying home run to right field in the first inning -- it was his 19th of the season. And Brandon Moss hit a three-run shot to right in the second. Both Reddick and Moss came from the Red Sox organization."It's always going to be something special to do well against these guys," Reddick said.A's rookie catcher Derek Norris caught Parker, extended his hitting streak to seven games, and even got his first big league stolen base. "He's the total package behind the plate, we're excited about it," Melvin said. "We were on the same page all night, it makes it a lot easier out there," Parker said of Norris. "I was able to settle in and just pretty much follow him."In 90-or-so more years, it is doubtful historians will remember the day Parker bested the Red Sox to equal Schupp. But for now you can revel in the statistical anomaly that is Parker's season.