Mariners Game Recap: M’s Power Past Red Sox in Seattle

Aug 2, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) hits a three run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 2, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) hits a three run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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5. 62. Final. 4. 14

The Mariners were dead in the water through the first seven innings tonight, but a five-run eighth earned them a 5-4 victory in Seattle.

The Seattle Mariners fought back to even the series with the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night at Safeco Field. Donn Roach (2-0, 8.44 ERA) was credited with the win for the Mariners, and Fernando Abad (1-5, 2.86 ERA) took the loss for Boston. Edwin Diaz shut the door in the ninth for his first career save.

The Red Sox started the scoring early tonight, pushing across the game’s first run in the top of the first inning. LeBlanc got Mookie Betts to pop out to Kyle Seager at third base for the first out, but proceeded to walk Dustin Pedroia. Xander Bogaerts popped out to shortstop, but David Ortiz sliced a double down the left field line to plate Pedroia. Ortiz’s two bagger gave the Sox a 1-0 lead.

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Boston opened things up a little bit more in the the fourth inning. LeBlanc struck out Bogaerts and Ortiz for the first two outs, but Hanley Ramirez was tougher to retire. The Red Sox’s first baseman destroyed a fastball, launching it deep to left-center field for a solo home run. Jackie Bradley Jr. extended the inning with a double, and he came around to score on an Aaron Hill single to make it 3-0.

Wade LeBlanc was lifted after allowing three runs on five hits through six innings of work. The veteran southpaw struck out five and issued one free pass. LeBlanc is a strike thrower, and 61 of his 92 pitches found the zone tonight. LeBlanc may not have been dominant, but he did enough to keep the Mariners within striking distance. With Wade Miley now pitching for the Baltimore Orioles, we should be seeing a lot of LeBlanc this summer.

Donn Roach entered in the seventh for the Mariners. Roach worked a scoreless seventh, but things did not go according to plan during the eighth inning. Betts laced a leadoff double to immediately put the pressure on the M’s. Pedroia grounded out, but Betts was able to move up to third base on the play. Ortiz hit a sacrifice fly to left field to give the Red Sox a 4-0 lead.

The Mariners were asleep against David Price through the first seven innings, but they finally started playing in the eighth. Mike Zunino entered the frame having struck out 11 times in 12 career at bats against Price, but he ripped a first pitch breaking ball over the wall in left field for a solo home run. Leonys Martin followed with a bloop single, and Luis Sardinas lined a single into right field to make it three consecutive hits for Seattle. Guillermo Heredia came through, punching a line drive just over Ramirez at first base to bring home Martin from second base. Heredia’s first career base hit and RBI brought the M’s to within two runs.

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Heredia’s RBI single chased Price from the game. Matt Barnes entered with a pair of runners on base and none out. Seth Smith pinch hit for Franklin Gutierrez, but Smitty was tardy on a fastball and struck out. Fernando Abad came on to face Robinson Cano, and Cano yanked a hanging breaking ball into the seats in right field for a 3-run bomb. Cano’s 24th dinger of the season gave the Mariners a 5-4 lead after 8 innings.

Cano’s big fly gave M’s fans an opportunity to see Edwin Diaz get the ball in a save situation for the first time. The Mariners new closer blew away Bradley with a 98 mph fastball for the first out. Diaz walked Travis Shaw, but sat down the next two men he faced to record his first career save. This was likely the first on many saves for the fireballing Diaz.

Next: Taijuan Walker Looked Good in Rehab Start

The Seattle Mariners (53-52) will host the Boston Red Sox (58-47) again on Wednesday night at Safeco Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm from the corner of Edgar & Dave. Hisashi Iwakuma (11-7, 4.21 ERA) will be on the bump for the M’s, and Rick Porcello (14-2, 3.47 ERA) will get the ball for the Red Sox.