Red Sox Give Mariners 13th Straight L Behind Lackey's Solid Outing

Sports Illustrated

Red Sox 7 Mariners 4
Winning Pitcher: John Lackey (8-8)
Losing Pitcher: Felix Hernandez (8-9)
Save: Jonathan Papelbon (22)


Recap
The Red Sox used a nice performance from John Lackey, a continued power surge from Jacoby Ellsbury and a big seventh inning to send Seattle to their 13th consecutive loss Friday night at Fenway. Lackey got off to a pretty rough start in the first, giving up a single to Ichiro on his very first pitch. On the next pitch, Ichiro stole second, and he took third on the next pitch after that. Dustin Ackley then came through with an opposite field base hit, giving the Mariners the early 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Dustin Pedroia wasted no time extending his hit streak to 19 games with a base hit. After a fielder's choice and passed ball moved him to third, Pedroia scored the game tying run on an RBI single from Kevin Youkilis. Lackey came out with two 1-2-3 innings in the second and third, and Jacoby Ellsbury gave the Sox the lead in the bottom of the third with a solo blast that traveled 449 feet, the longest of his career. That score remained the same into the seventh, despite multiple chances for Boston to extend the lead. They loaded the bases in the seventh, and Adrian Gonzalez knocked in two with a single, ending the day for Felix Hernandez. Youkilis then knocked in another run with a double, and David Ortiz put the cherry on top with an RBI single of his own. Franklin Morales came on for the Sox in the eighth, and made it back into a game by allowing a three run shot to Mike Carp, allowing Seattle back within three. Bard and Papelbon combined to shut the door the rest of the way, and the Red Sox continued to surge.



Home Runs
Boston: Jacoby Ellsbury (16)
Seattle: Mike Carp (1)


The Red Sox and Mariners continue their series in Boston tomorrow night at 7:10 PM ET. Boston will send Josh Beckett (8-3 2.12) to the mound against Seattle's Blake Beavan (1-1 2.70).