For the second night in a row, a Mariners starter gave up four runs through the first two innings. Unlike last night, the Mariners were unable to come from behind, falling 5-3 to the Boston Red Sox.The Mariners could never quite get to Red Sox starter Josh Beckett, who threw a season-high 120 pitches and improved his record to 4-2. Mariners starter Garrett Olson, making his season debut, allowed five earned runs through six innings. He is now 0-5 in his career against the Red Sox.
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The Red Sox capitalized on three home runs in the first five innings. Down by two runs, the Mariners had a chance to get to Beckett in the fourth but could only score one run in the inning. The Mariners were unable to put any more runs on the board, losing their 20th game of the season.
Yuniesky Betancourt got the Mariners on the board in the second inning with his second home run of the season. A new-found approach at the plate appears to be paying off for Betancourt, who also notched his third walk in the past two games and finished the game 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs.
In the fourth, Adrian Beltre reached first on a fielding error by Red Sox, and with no outs and Beltre at first, Russell Branyan ripped a double down the left field line scoring Beltre from first. Branyan advanced to third on the relay to the plate. The Mariners’ next two batters, Wladimir Balentien and Kenji Johjima grounded out to shortstop and second base, respectively. After Betancourt walked, Endy Chavez ended the Mariners’ last significant scoring threat with a groundout to first.
Always difficult to face, Olson was able to somewhat stymie the Red Sox potent offense, only giving up four hits. Unfortunately, three of them were home runs, accounting for all the Red Sox scoring. After a two-out walk to right fielder J.D. Drew in the first inning, Jason Bay planted a first-pitch fastball into the bullpen in left field.
The very next inning, the Red Sox added two more runs off a one-out Jason Varitek home run to left. Julio Lugo, who scored on the play, also reached base on a walk. Those first two walks proved especially costly for Olson, who allowed four walks total, as both runners came around to score.
With the loss, the Mariners fell to 17-20 and dropped a game in the AL West standings as the division leading Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels earlier in the night. The Red Sox improve to 22-15 and remain in second place in the AL East behind the Toronto Blue Jays.
Tomorrow at 1:10 p.m., the Mariners play the rubber-game of the three-game series, sending Jason Vargas to the hill for his second start of the season. Vargas will face off against Red Sox starter Justin Masterson.
Reach Jeff Twining at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
