Red Sox Recap: Mariners blank Sox, 5-0

The Red Sox set out this afternoon in Seattle to end their ten game road trip on a high note. They could end the trip with a 6-4 record as well as even their overall record at 18-18. Knuckleballer Steven Wright (1-0, 4.22) made his first start of the season, taking the rotation spot of struggling Justin Masterson. Canadian import James Paxton (1-2, 4.31) faced the Red Sox for the first time in his career. It was a long day for the Red Sox, as Paxton shut down Boston’s struggling offense.  Seattle won going away, 5-0

The Mariners got on the board first in the bottom of the second. Singles by Kyle Seager and Logan Morrison opened the inning. A passed ball which glanced off catcher Blake Swihart‘s glove brought home Seager with the first run, advancing Morrison to second base. A single by Mike Zunino with two outs brought Morrison home with the second run.

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An infield single by Swihart on a seemingly routine groundball to deep short and a single down the right field line by the rejuvenated Shane Victorino, created an opportunity for the Red Sox in the third inning with two outs. The chance was squandered as Dustin Pedroia continued his slump with runners in scoring position, grounding out to shortstop to end the inning.  The Red Sox other scoring chance came in the seventh with two outs.  Xander Bogaerts beat out an infield single to first after Paxton failed to cover first base.  Brock Holt followed with a double to send Bogaerts to third base.  Before Red Sox fans could get excited, Swihart grounded the first pitch to shortstop to end the threat.

Brad Miller continued his power surge with his third solo home run in two days, extending Seattle’s lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth.  Seager made sure Fernando Rodney had the day off, by pounding Craig Breslow‘s first pitch into the right field seats to make it 5-0 in the bottom of the eighth inning.

While it is disappointing to lose a night after beating an ace like King Felix, the Red Sox should still be satisfied with this road trip at 5-5 considering they dropped the first two games of the trip. The Red Sox have tomorrow off, then start a series at Fenway on Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers.

Game Notes

• Hanley Ramirez is eight for 37 (.216), with one walk  in nine games, with one double and no RBI, since returning from his shoulder injury.  If you take out one four hit game in that span, he is four for 32.  There has to be concern something could really be wrong with that shoulder.  Perhaps a night off on Tuesday night would do him some good.
• Holt seems to be heating back up, going four for 10 with two walks including two doubles and an RBI over the last three games.
• Victorino is six for his last 13 with a double and a home run over his last four games to raise his average from .128 to .212
• All six runs Alexi Ogando has surrendered this year have scored on a home run.

Game Awards

Wright didn’t pitch all that badly for a Red Sox starter.  He gave up two earned runs in five innings on five hits, walking one and striking out four.  The Red Sox couldn’t get anything going today to back him up.  He deserves to stay in the rotation until Masterson returns if he performs at this level.  Wright threw 83 pitches in his five innings, but a rested bullpen needed work, so he was taken out.

Barnes allowed two base runners, but twirled a scoreless frame.  Ogando and Breslow were not as lucky, each charged with a run as the home run allowed plated a runner Ogando had put on base.  Considering the feeble performance  by the offense, the relief pitching didn’t matter much.  Ogando and Breslow may have been better if it hadn’t been six days since his last appearance for each pitcher.

Only Holt and Victorino managed to reach base twice today.  Since Holt had the extra base hit, he gets the award.  Since Holt and Victorino are the hot hands, look for Holt and Victorino to man right field while they continue to hit.