Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - - Michael Saunders' two-run single, part of six straight hits by the Mariners to start the eighth inning, lifted Seattle to a 4-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox to conclude a four-game series.
Casey Kotchman had three hits and scored once for the Mariners, who took the last two contests. Pinch-Hitter Milton Bradley added a bunt RBI single during Seattle's three-run eighth inning. It was the 2,500th win in Mariners history.
Kevin Youkilis and Adrian Beltre each knocked in a run for the Red Sox, who lost for the fourth time in six games.
Daisuke Matsuzaka surrendered four hits and a run, walked five and had four strikeouts over six innings, while Seattle's Doug Fister gave up seven hits and two runs over five frames.
Jose Lopez singled to start the bottom of the eighth, prompting Hideki Okajima (3-3) to replace Daniel Bard. Justin Smoak singled to left and Kotchman added a soft hit to the left side. Okajima paused before throwing to first base, loading the bases with nobody out. Saunders then singled cleanly to right field to provide the Mariners with the 3-2 lead. Bradley followed with a perfectly-placed squeeze bunt toward first base, crossing up Okajima and first baseman Youkilis.
Jack Wilson singled to right to load the bases again, but Ichiro Suzuki grounded into a double play and Ramon Ramirez fanned Chone Figgins to end the inning.
David Aardsma retired the side in order in the ninth for his 18th save. It gave Brandon League (8-6) the win after he retired the final Boston batter in the eighth.
Lopez singled in Figgins in the third, but the Red Sox went ahead in the fourth as Youkilis doubled in a run and Beltre followed with an RBI single to center.
The Mariners, who won for just the sixth time in their last 22 games, left 10 men on base...Boston fell to 9-17 in day games...Before Sunday, Bard had not allowed a run in a career-high 15 straight outings.