SB Nation Boston - Red Sox 2, Mariners 1: Sox Take First Extra-Innings Win On David Ortiz Sac Fly

Red Sox Extras: Sox Come Out Ahead

2012-07-02T15:48:40Z

It's hard not to categorize Boston's weekend in Seattle as a disappointment. Two losses in four games to a team batting around the Mendoza line with a 34-47 record? Excusable given the role of Felix Hernandez in their first loss, but still a difficult pill to swallow when you consider all their wasted opportunities in the third game.

Still, thanks to some good luck, the Sox were able to enter this week in a better position.

On June 27, the Sox were down 6.5 games in the East, 1.5 games back of the Orioles, and even with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Today? They're still 6.5 back of the Yankees, but just half-a-game back of the Orioles and their coveted wild card spot, and one game up on the Rays. Even the Angels are still just two games ahead.

As bad as a weekend as it was for the Red Sox, it wasn't exactly a party for the rest of the American League's contenders either. The Rays ran into a resurgent Tigers team pushing to get back to .500, scoring just 11 runs in losing three-of-four.The Orioles have dropped seven-of-ten, their most recent struggles coming against an Indians team that scored 36 runs in their four games. Meanwhile the Angels and Blue Jays played to a stalemate, as did the New York Yankees and White Sox.

The Sox certainly had it easiest competition wise, so maybe it's to be expected that they came out ahead on the whole. Still, with a West Coast trip always a battle, that they've done more than simply survive is a very big positive. If they can take a couple from the Athletics before heading home, they should be in good position for their four games against the Yankees.

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page and blog, Over the Monster.

Red Sox Vs. Mariners Final Score: Dustin Pedroia Comes Through Big In 2-1 Win

2012-07-02T00:02:59Z

The Red Sox took their first extra-innings win of the season thanks to a big day from Dustin Pedroia, a Ryan Kalish double, and a David Ortiz sacrifice fly, downing the Mariners 2-1 in ten frames.

While the Red Sox were once again held down for an extended period of time, the Mariners didn't wait too long to score against them. Felix Doubront was no better against a weak Mariners lineup than he had been in the past month. Battling wildness and a specific inability to hit the inside part of the plate against lefties, Doubront would manage to keep the Mariners from putting up big numbers with some significant defensive help, but failed to provide much in the way of innings, as his pitch count ballooned under the strain of numerous long at bats and five walks. Exiting in the fifth with the bases loaded and one run having scored back in the third, Doubront was only saved from an ugly line by a timely double play induced by Matt Albers.

Jason Vargas suffered from none of the pitch count problems while benefiting from all of the defensive advantages Doubront did. Three times Kyle Seager snared line drives to third, once with the bases loaded, while the outfield ran down everything hit in its direction. The Red Sox offense was hitting him well enough, it just wasn't showing up in the box score.

Things would finally change for the Red Sox in the eighth inning, and it took just one pitch. A fastball over the plate to Dustin Pedroia was sent on its way out of the park to left, tying the game up at 1-1.

The Mariners would end up putting two runners on in the ninth against Vicente Padilla before Brendan Ryan flew out to right on the first pitch he saw to send the game into extras. That's when the Sox struck again. A shaky Brandon League left a fastball up to Ryan Kalish, who planted it off the top of the wall in right field for a one-out double. Dustin Pedroia moved him to third with a single into right field, and while David Ortiz missed homer no. 400 against Lucas Luetge, his fly ball to the track was plenty deep enough to bring Kalish in from third. Alfredo Aceves finished it off with a 1-2-3 save, sending the Sox to Oakland with a win.

Final - 7.1.2012	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Boston Red Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	7	1
Seattle Mariners	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	0
WP: Vicente Padilla (2 - 0) SV: Alfredo Aceves (19) LP: Brandon League (0 - 5)

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Andrew Bailey Injury Update: Red Sox Closer Throwing From 150 Feet, Will Role Change When He Returns?

2012-07-01T23:50:13Z

Boston Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey was throwing pregame on Sunday from 150 feet to test his arm out (via ESPN Boston). Bailey has missed the entire 2012 season so far after having thumb surgery in Spring Training.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said that he watched most of Bailey's throws and that his pitcher looked good. "I saw all but the last five throws of it, and he looked pretty good. Tomorrow is going to be a good test for him, to see how he feels. He was stretching it out pretty good.''

When Bailey returns, is there a possibility that he won't be the closer after all? When Boston traded for Bailey in the offseason, they anticipated him being their closer. Since the injury, Alfredo Aceves has assumed the closer role and has made 18 saves (5th in the AL) in 21 opportunities. Bailey is 7-10 in his MLB career with a 2.07 ERA and 75 saves in 84 opportunities.

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page and blog, Over the Monster.

Red Sox Vs. Mariners Live Blog: Inning By Inning Updates For Game 4

2012-07-01T20:28:42Z

The Sox can only hope for a series split against the Mariners Sunday as they send Felix Doubront to the mound opposite Jason Vargas.

We'll keep you up-to-date on all the action as it goes down in Safeco.

Red Sox 2, Mariners 1, Mid 10th -- A shaky Brandon League lets the Red Sox finally take the lead. After a Nick Punto ground out, League left a fastball up and over the plate to Ryan Kalish, who nearly put the Sox ahead on his own, doubling off the wall in dead center to get the Sox another RISP opportunity. Dustin Pedroia follows by lacing a hit into right field, but Kalish is only able to move to third, leaving it up to David Ortiz. While the Sox only need a ball to medium depth, Ortiz nearly gives them so much more, just barely getting under a Lucas Luetge sinker, sending the ball all the way to the track before Ichiro can come up with it, plenty deep to score Kalish from third.

The Sox just need to hold on for one inning in this very light-scoring series now to leave with a tie and gain on both the Rays and Orioles.

Red Sox 1, Mariners 1, End 9th -- For the second straight night, the Sox and Mariners are ready to offer up some bonus baseball. Vicente Padilla has to work around a 1-out double and a 2-out walk, but gets Brendan Ryan to hit a lazy fly to right on the first pitch he sees, ending the ninth with the 1-1 tie intact.

Red Sox 1, Mariners 1, Mid 9th -- The Sox can only hope that they're headed to extra innings again, as a one-out walk and stolen base from Will Middlebrooks is wasted.

Red Sox 1, Mariners 1, End 8th -- With another 1-2-3 inning, Scott Atchison sends the game into the ninth in a 1-1 tie. It's the third time a game has been tied heading to the ninth so far this series, with the Sox 0-2 in said games. Hopefully this time things end differently.

Red Sox 1, Mariners 1, Mid 8th -- It's been a long time in coming--both for the Sox and their second baseman--but Dustin Pedroia chose a pretty good time to unload his first homer in well over a month. It's a fastball over the outside part of the plate from Jason Vargas that's to blame, with Pedroia putting a long swing on it and pulling it just over the lip of the wall in left field to tie the game up.

Mariners 1, Red Sox 0, End 7th -- Scott Atchison continues his stellar season and keeps the Mariners close with a 1-2-3 seventh, but it's all up to the offense now if they're going to make something of this.

Mariners 1, Red Sox 0, Mid 7th -- Kyle Seager snags his third line drive at the hot corner in an otherwise uneventful seventh inning. The Sox are down to six outs to avoid their second time being shut out in this series.

Mariners 1, Red Sox 0, End 6th -- Dustin Ackley picks up a two-out walk, but Kelly Shoppach guns him down trying to steal second, ending the inning.

Mariners 1, Red Sox 0, Mid 6th -- An amusing misplay by Casper Wells has him sliding to the grass as a Cody Ross fly ball falls behind him to give the Sox a one-out baserunner. But with a pop-out from Adrian Gonzalez and another strikeout from Will Middlebrooks, the inning ends without further incident. 35 innings into this series and the Sox are stuck on seven runs.

Mariners 1, Red Sox 0, End 5th -- Felix Doubront's night has ended with just the one earned run, but it's hardly been an impressive night. A single, walk, and hit batsman surrounding an Ichiro fly ball to the track loads the bases in the fifth, making Bobby Valentine turn to Matt Albers. His first pitch is a sinker that stays perhaps a bit too high for comfort over the middle of the plate, but Jesus Montero's struggles against righties continue, leaving him--and the Mariners--the victim of the double play as Will Middlebrooks steps on third and fires to first.

Mariners 1, Red Sox 0, Mid 5th -- The Sox trade a solid hit for a weak one, as Kyle Seager again robs the Sox of a line drive--this time off the bat of Kelly Shoppach--but then can't make the play on a Nick Punto bunt in time. Brent Lillibridge pops up behind him, however, and Dustin Pedroia's fly ball is an easy out for Casper Wells in center.

Mariners 1, Red Sox 0, End 4th -- Doubront has to survive another long, shaky inning. Starting the inning with two walks, the southpaw immediately finds himself in a jam. Dustin Ackley can't get the bunt down, however, and then finds himself rung up on a fastball, and a ball in the dirt provides a free out when Miguel Olivo gets stuck in no man's land between second and third, allowing the Sox to tag him for the second out. With Chone Figgins grounding out to third, the deficit stays at just the one run.

Mariners 1, Red Sox 0, Mid 4th -- 1-2-3 go the Red Sox, who are really not doing what they should against a pitcher like Vargas. They've yet to score before the fifth in this series.

Mariners 1, Red Sox 0, End 3rd -- Another long inning lets Seattle open the scoring in the third. Like the Sox in the top of the second, the Mariners put men on the corners with no outs. Unlike the Red Sox, however, they can produce at least the situational out necessary for the run. It comes from Ichiro, who lifts a fly ball deep enough to bring Chone Figgins in from third. A walk from Kyle Seager is all that follows, leaving Seattle with just the one run, but Doubront's pitch count is back up to untenable levels as a result.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, Mid 3rd -- David Ortiz gives the Sox their only baserunner of the inning by drawing a two-out walk from Vargas before Cody Ross gets underneath a 2-0 fastball, lifting a lazy fly ball to right field.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, End 2nd -- Felix Doubront enjoys a much quicker second inning, getting a Miguel Olivo fly ball out with his first pitch and a ground ball from Justin Smoak with his third. Four more pitches earns him a strikeout against Dustin Ackley, leaving him with a fairly normal count headed into the third.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, Mid 2nd -- Frustration continues for the Red Sox, who get leadoff singles from Cody Ross and Adrian Gonzalez to put runners at the corners but just can't push the run across. Will Middlebrooks goes down swinging at a changeup low in the zone for the first out, Daniel Nava manages just a weak pop-up, and while Kelly Shoppach draws a walk to load the bases and Nick Punto puts good wood on the ball, his line drive is grabbed in the air by a diving Kyle Seager to save at least one run.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, End 1st -- Ichiro Suzuki fouls off three straight two-strike pitches, Casper Wells adds another pair before striking out, and Kyle Seager works an eight-pitch walk. While Jesus Montero goes down on two pitches, it's still an incredibly long inning for Doubront, who has often had problems with pitch counts.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, Mid 1st -- With Mike Aviles a late scratch, Brent Lillibridge inexplicably takes over in the leadoff role despite a career .709 OPS and .282 OBP against left-handed pitchers. It's no great surprise that this lets Jason Vargas get off to a hot start, striking him out on five pitches to start a 1-2-3 frame. Vargas' low arm angle may have given David Ortiz troubles to finish the inning, as he too struck out, looking a bit foolish on some of the pitches.

Red Sox Vs. Mariners Lineups: Sox Out To Salvage A Tie Against Jason Vargas

2012-07-01T18:06:57Z

The Red Sox can only hope to salvage a tie against the Seattle Mariners as they wrap up their series in Safeco Sunday afternoon. First pitch is at 4:10 p.m. EST with broadcasts on NESN and WEEI.

The Sox will have a new lineup against the left-handed Vargas, maintaining the same basic structure as their previous lineup against southpaws, but with some necessary modifications now that Darnell McDonald has been designated for assignment. Both Daniel Nava and Brent Lillibridge will now feature in the outfield in addition to the staple of Cody Ross, batting seventh and ninth respectively.

Otherwise, it's the same as before, with Cody Ross shifting up to the cleanup spot and Kelly Shoppach taking over behind the plate and batting eighth.

Boston Red Sox (41-37)

Mike Aviles, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Cody Ross, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Daniel Nava, LF
Kelly Shoppach, C
Brent Lillibridge, CF

Seattle Mariners (34-46)

Ichiro Suzuki, RF
Casper Wells, CF
Kyle Seager, 3B
Jesus Montero, C
Miguel Olivo, DH
Justin Smoak, 1B
Dustin Ackley, 2B
Chone Figgins, LF
Brendan Ryan, SS

Next Game

Boston Red Sox
@ Seattle Mariners

Sunday, Jul 1, 2012, 4:10 PM EDT
SAFECO Field

Felix Doubront vs Jason Vargas

Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 0-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 60.

Complete Coverage >

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page and blog, Over the Monster.

Red Sox Extras: Eschewing Small Ball At The Worst Time

2012-07-01T15:47:38Z

One of the greater complaints against Bobby Valentine has been his willingness to use the sacrifice bunt in situations that do not truly call for it this year. With 21 of them on the season, the Sox come in second in the American League, giving away outs at a rather distressing pace.

But even the staunchest opponent of bunts will usually acknowledge that there are some situations that call for it. Which makes it all-the-more confusing why Bobby Valentine did not elect to play for a run in the tenth inning of last night's game against the Mariners.

With the game locked in a 2-2 tie, the Sox picked up leadoff singles from Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz two put two men on with no outs in the inning. Up stepped Jarrod Saltalamacchia, needing just to move the runners along. Unfortunately, Salty is exactly who you don't want in that situation. A free-swinging power bat, Salty can bring in a run at any time, but is inconsistent in his ability to put the bat on the ball. Had the bunt been on, that would not have been nearly so much of an issue, and Adrian Gonzalez could have stepped up to the plate knowing he needed just a fly ball to make the 1-2-3 bottom of the tenth a game-ender. The ground ball eventually booted by Dustin Ackley would even have been enough.

Instead, Saltalamacchia struck out, as he is wont to do, and Gonzalez' ground ball only moved Dustin Pedroia to third. With another ground ball from Will Middlebrooks, the inning was over.

It was a game ruined by Boston's lack of clutch hitting, but one that probably could've been salvaged had Bobby V simply stayed true to his worst strategies in the rare situation where they actually made sense. Instead, he bafflingly went off-script, and the Sox dropped another game as a result.

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page and blog, Over the Monster.

Red Sox Vs. Mariners Final Score: Sox Fall 3-2 In Extra Innings

2012-07-01T06:41:18Z

The Red Sox fell to the Mariners 3-2 in extra innings Saturday, as they lost for the second time in the series to a walkoff.

As with the last two games, this one started with a lengthy scoring drought for both sides. Unlike Friday's game, however, this time it was the Mariners' starter in Erasmo Ramirez looking strong and Boston's in Josh Beckett getting by on hard-hit outs. Still, through the fourth Beckett was tossing a no-hitter, while Ramirez had left in the third inning after apparently injuring himself fielding a comebacker.

The no-hitter would end, however, in the fifth, and the shutout in the sixth, as Beckett seemed to tire late into his first outing after coming off the disabled list. Despite working with a very low pitch count, Beckett saw the bases loaded with a single, a walk, and then a pop-up behind third that dropped in past a lost Mike Aviles for a hit. John Jaso, the hero from the first game of the series came to the plate, and once again came up big. A double to the wall in right field brought home two runs to score, giving the Mariners the first lead of the game.

It didn't last long at all. In the very next inning, the Sox loaded the bases with three straight singles and then scored a pair on a ground ball and a passed ball. Just like that, the game was tied again.

And tied it would stay! With both bullpens now into the game, the Sox and Mariners traded out after out. While the Sox would pick up a fair few opportunities to score, they would fail each time, stranding runners time and again, as had been their penchant for most of the game.

The fateful inning would prove to be the ninth. With the Red Sox having wasted an opportunity in the tenth with two leadoff baserunners, the Mariners did not waste the opportunity with two on and one out in the eleventh. With Dustin Ackley having gone first-to-third on the second single, the Mariners needed just a sacrifice fly to right from Chone Figgins to win the game, with the throw from Cody Ross skipping in too hot and too close for Jarrod Saltalamacchia to record the out.

Final - 6.30.2012	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Boston Red Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	11	0
Seattle Mariners	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	3	9	0
WP: Shawn Kelley (2 - 2) LP: Alfredo Aceves (0 - 5)

Complete Coverage >

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page and blog, Over the Monster.

Red Sox Vs. Mariners Live Blog: Inning By Inning Updates For Game 3

2012-07-01T02:41:03Z

The Red Sox and Mariners are underway in Safeco field. We'll keep you up-to-date on all the action as it goes down in Seattle.

Red Sox 2, Mariners 2, Mid 10th -- As the clock back out east approaches 2 AM, it's no surprise that the Sox are slowing down offensively. 1-2-3 goes the bottom of the Red Sox lineup, with strikeouts to Ryan Kalish and Mike Aviles putting an exclamation mark on the frame for Shawn Kelley.

Red Sox 2, Mariners 2, End 10th -- The Sox and Mariners keep trading scoreless innings, with the Sox again threatening and the Mariners not really responding. A quick 1-2-3 frame for Alfedo Aceves leaves him with just 14 pitches on his arm and the two teams facing another inning

Red Sox 2, Mariners 2, Mid 10th -- And another wasted chance. This time the singles come before any outs, but the Sox can barely even move the runners along, with a strikeout and two groundouts finishing the frame before either runner could score.

Red Sox 2, Mariners 2, End 9th -- And we're headed to extra innings! Though Vicente Padilla gives up a one-out walk, Alfredo Aceves comes in to record the double play and end the ninth in a hurry.

Red Sox 2, Mariners 2, Mid 9th -- The Sox let yet another scoring opportunity go to waste. Despite putting two men on with just the one out, the Sox have Mike Aviles strike out and Daniel Nava hit a fly ball which Chone Figgins made the play on for the out.

Red Sox 2, Mariners 2, End 8th -- Andrew Miller grabs another two outs before letting up a two-out single. Vicente Padilla does Miller's job from the inning before, striking out Miguel Olivo to send the game into the ninth.

Red Sox 2, Mariners 2, Mid 8th -- A two-out hit is wasted by the very man who produced it, as Adrian Gonzalez runs into the out as second to end a possible rally before it so much as started.

Red Sox 2, Mariners 2, End 7th -- Mark Melancon allows a pair of hits in between a couple of outs, but Andrew Miller comes in to close the door by getting lefty Kyle Seager swinging.

Red Sox 2, Mariners 2, Mid 7th -- Or the Sox could grab the same pair in the very next inning. Three leadoff singles from the Red Sox from Adrian Gonzalez, Will Middlebrooks, and Cody Ross loads the bases against Brandon League. While Boston doesn't manage to fully capitalize on their opportunity, a ground out a passed ball bring two in to tie the game.

Mariners 2, Red Sox 0, End 6th -- The scoring finally breaks open in the sixth, as the bases are loaded against Josh Beckett thanks to a one-out single, walk, and a pop-up behind third that Mike Aviles loses and Daniel Nava can't make a play on, allowing it to drop just barely in fair territory. It is again John Jaso, however, who deals the real hammer blow with a double to the wall in right. A couple of ground balls gets him out of the inning, but with the low-scoring nature of the game, the two runs are a lot.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, Mid 6th -- Lucas Luetge enters the game for Furbush and gets a strikeout and two groundouts to keep the Sox down yet again.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, End 5th -- The no-hitter comes to an end for Josh Beckett when Miguel Olivo shoots a line drive into left field. With Chone Figgins going down behind him, however, the Mariners remain scoreless.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, Mid 5th -- Another Sox RISP goes by the wayside when, after a leadoff walk from Cody Ross, the 8-9-1 hitters go down 1-2-3, with Daniel Nava hitting a line drive right to the shortstop for the final out. It's been a game of hard-luck outs for both sides at this point, with a legitimate rally not particularly far away.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, End 4th -- More hard contact against Josh Beckett, but still no damage, as Ryan Kalish ranges back nicely to grab a long fly ball and Adrian Gonzalez fields a line drive smoothly to keep the Mariners off the base paths yet again.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, Mid 4th -- The Sox get another couple of baserunners with hits from Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Adrian Gonzalez, but Will Middlebrooks strikes out to end the threat and keep the game scoreless.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, End 3rd -- The first two outs are easy for Josh Beckett, with a strikeout of Chone Figgins and a ground out from Munenori Kawasaki. The final out, however, requires Cody Ross to go to extraordinary lengths, making a leaping grab and smacking into the wall to rob Ichiro Suzuki of extra bases.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, Mid 3rd -- Erasmo Ramirez makes an early surprise exit, suffering some sort of injury in the process of fielding a comebacker from Ryan Kalish. Charlie Furbush enters in his place with two down, gives up the first hit of the night to the Red Sox--a line drive to left field by Mike Aviles. Daniel Nava is caught watching a pitch too close to take with two strikes, however, and the Mariners are out of the inning.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, End 2nd -- Josh Beckett allows the first baserunner of the game on a walk, but strikes out John Jaso with a high fastball and earns a couple of ground balls to end the threat. Once again things are moving quickly in Safeco, if perhaps not at the ridiculous speed maintained by Cook and Noesi on Friday.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, Mid 2nd -- Erasmo Ramirez' momentum carries over cleanly into the second, albeit with some luck this time as Jarrod Saltalamacchia hits a hard line drive to first before a couple of lazy fly balls end the inning.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, End 1st -- Josh Beckett has a bit of a mixed bag in the first. While the Mariners go down 1-2-3, and Casper Wells is the victim of Beckett's first strikeout of the night, both Ichiro Suzuki and Kyle Seager hit some worryingly loud fly balls.

Red Sox 0, Mariners 0, Mid 1st -- A loud leadoff line drive out to right field for Daniel Nava gives the impression that runs may be forthcoming, but Erasmo Ramirez quickly extinguishes any hopes of that by striking out Dustin Pedroia swinging at a high-and-inside fastball, and then gets Ortiz to chase a changeup for his second K of the night.