Ellsbury Keeps Hitting; Red Sox Push M's Skid to 14

Sports Illustrated

Red Sox 3 Mariners 1
Winning Pitcher: Josh Beckett (9-3)
Losing Pitcher: Blake Beavan (1-2)
Save: Jonathan Papelbon (23)



Recap
The Red Sox continued to win games in July, this time behind another strong performance from Josh Beckett, giving Terry Francona his 1,000th victory as a Major League manager. The game started as a pitching duel between Beckett and Seattle rookie Blake Beavan. In the bottom of the first, Dustin Pedroia hit a double to extend his career-long hitting streak to twenty games. Each offense had a few chances throughout the early parts of the game, but were unable to capitalize. The runs started to come in the seventh inning. Mike Carp made Beckett pay for his mistake to start the inning, leading off the frame with a solo blast to center field, giving the Mariners a 1-0 edge. They later had a runner in scoring position in the inning, but were unable to score another run. After recording two quick outs in the bottom of the inning, the Red Sox offense started to rally. Following a single from Jason Varitek, Marco Scutaro hit a ground rule double, putting two men in scoring position. The red-hot Jacoby Ellsbury then hit a base hit up the middle, scoring both men and giving Boston the 2-1 lead. After a Pedroia single moved him to third, Ellsbury scored on a wild pitch from M's reliever Aaron Laffey. Beckett was pulled after the Red Sox gave him a 3-0 lead, finishing with 7 innings, allowing the one run on 7 hits, 1 walks an 7 strikeouts. Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon gave up one hit each, but held the lead and gave the Sox their third straight.



Home Runs
Boston: None
Seattle: Mike Carp (2)


The Red Sox and Mariners finish up their three game series Sunday afternoon at 1:35 PM ET. Boston will send Tim Wakefield (5-2 4.80) to the mound against Seattle's Michael Pineda (8-6 3.24).