Mariners Game Recap: Sampson Struggles in Debut, M’s Lose 6-2

It was truly a team effort for the Red Sox on Saturday, as 8 of their 9 starters tallied at least 1 base hit during their 6-2 victory against the Mariners.

The Seattle Mariners were hoping to notch their third consecutive victory on Saturday afternoon in Boston, but they were unable to get the job done against the Red Sox. Boston evened the weekend series at a game a piece after winning 6-2. Rick Porcello earned the victory for the home side, and Adrian Sampson was credited with the loss in his Major League debut.

Seattle got the scoring started early, plating the game’s first run in the top of the first inning. The Mariners led off the game with three consecutive singles to load the bases for Nelson Cruz. The Boomstick hit into a double play, but Leonys Martin was able to trot home to give the M’s a 1-0 lead.

The Mariners doubled their cushion in the top of the second inning thanks to an Adam bomb. Adam Lind led off the frame for Seattle by clubbing a 90 mph fastball over the wall in center field for a solo home run. The round-tripper made it 2-0 M’s.

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After making it through the first three innings unscathed, Adrian Sampson ran into a bit of trouble in the home half of the fourth inning. The young right-hander retired the first two men he faced with relative ease, but Jackie Bradley Jr. proved to a bit more difficult. Bradley took advantage of a 2-1 count, launching his 12th homer of the season over the wall in center field.

The Red Sox seemed to figure Sampson out as the game progressed, and they jumped all over the Bellevue, WA product in the fifth inning. A pair of singles leading off the frame put runners on the corners with none out. Mookie Betts made the Mariners pay, scoring Chris Young on a single to right field. Christian Vazquez was able to move up to third base on Betts’ single, and the Sox’s catcher crossed the plate after Dustin Pedroia grounded into a double play. Xander Bogaerts put the exclamation point on the inning, yanking a line-drive that landed in the seats above the Green Monster in left field.

Mike Montgomery retired the final out in the fifth inning, and stayed in the game to pitch the sixth. Hanley Ramirez started the inning with a single, but Monty was able to strikeout Bradley for the first out. Travis Shaw then singled to put runners on first and second with only one out. Following a strikeout, Vazquez ripped an RBI double down the left field line to give the Sox a 5-2 lead.

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Monty made it through the seventh without allowing a run, but that short streak ended the falling inning. Ramirez bested Nori Aoki‘s arm, legging out a leadoff double for Boston. Bradley lined out to Robinson Cano for the first out, and Cano wheeled and fired to second base in an attempt to double off Ramirez. Ketel Marte was unable to corral the toss, and the ball ricochet off his glove into left field. Ramirez ran right through the stop sign at third base, and once again beat Aoki’s arm, this time scoring at home plate. After 8 innings, the Red Sox led 6-2.

Despite it not being a save opportunity, Craig Kimbrel came on to shut the door for the BoSox in the ninth. The Red Sox’s closer made quick work of the Mariners, retiring the side in order to secure the 6-2 win.

Next: Franklin Gutierrez Powers Up in 8-4 Win

The Seattle Mariners (36-32) will battle the Boston Red Sox (38-29) in the rubber match on Sunday at Fenway Park. It will be an early start time for M’s fans, as first pitch is scheduled for 10:35 am PT. Taijuan Walker (3-6, 3.69 ERA) will make his first career start against the Sox, and David Price (7-4, 4.52 ERA) will be tasked with shutting down the Mariners’ attack.

It was truly a team effort for the Red Sox on Saturday, as 8 of their 9 starters tallied at least 1 base hit during their 6-2 victory against the Mariners.

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