Franklin Gutierrez hit a two-out single through the hole at short, scoring Ronny Cedeno from second to take the rubber match of the three-game series with the Boston Red Sox 3-2.
After two quick outs, second baseman Cedeno hit a ball deep in the hole at short forcing a wild throw from Red Sox shortstop Nick Green. With Cedeno at second after the throw, the Red Sox opted to intentionally walk Ichiro Suzuki and face Gutierrez instead.
The win gave Seattle a 2-1 series win over the Red Sox. They had entered the weekend series having lost nine-of-their-last-10 games. The Mariners are now 18-20 on the season. The Red Sox fell to 22-16.
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After rough starts for both Mariners pitchers the past two games, it was imperative that Jason Vargas not repeat the follies of Chris Jakubauskas and Garrett Olson. After a seven-pitch first inning, Vargas was on the verge of escaping the second unscathed, when Yuniesky Betancourt committed his sixth error of the season on a potential double-play ball. Fortunately for Vargas, he was able to pitch his way out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam only giving up one run on a Jason Varitek sac-fly to left.
The Mariners quickly evened the game at 1-1 in the second, when first baseman Russell Branyan sent the first pitch from Red Sox starter Justin Masterson into the right-center field seats for his team-leading ninth home run of the season. With two outs, Betancourt made up for his early error by doubling to left center. He then scored on Cedeno’s RBI triple to left field, making the score 2-1.
After giving up two singles in the third, Vargas induced the first of three Mariner double plays in the game to get out of another jam. After a scoreless third, the Red Sox evened the score at 2-2 on a solo home run from J.D. Drew. During the next four innings, each team had numerous opportunities to add to their tally, but couldn’t push any runs home.
Boston again loaded the bases in the fifth against Vargas with no outs. On a 3-2 pitch to Jason Bay, Vargas forced him to fly out to Branyan in foul territory and then got Lowell to hit into a double play to end the inning.
After a sixth inning walk to Drew pushed Vargas’s pitch total to 98, Wakamatsu pulled the plug and brought in right-handed reliever Sean White. White then got switch-hitting Varitek to ground into a double play ending the threat.
Throughout the series, the Mariners bullpen was phenomenal, allowing no runs and only four hits through nine innings, while striking out eight. On the heels on a two-blown save effort from former close Brandon Morrow to end the Rangers series, the Mariners were in dire need of solid pitching against a feared Red Sox lineup.
Mark Lowe came on for the Mariners in the eighth with the score still tied and struck out the side, retiring Mike Lowell, Drew and David Ortiz's replacement Rocco Baldelli.
In the bottom half of the inning the Mariners looked to have an opportunity to break the tie when Ken Griffey Jr. singled to left to lead off the inning. Endy Chavez came on to pinch run for Griffey and after Beltre popped out to short, Branyan came within inches of his second home run of the game, but Drew caught the ball up against the wall in right.
The Mariners next invite AL West rival the Los Angeles Angels to town for a crucial four-game series beginning Monday. The Angels are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Texas Rangers, who have now won seven straight and are still atop the division.
Reach Jeff Twining at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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