The Red Sox snapped a seven-game losing streak thanks to big homers from Cody Ross and Ryan Lavarnway in the sixth, knocking off the Mariners 4-3 in Seattle.
In the early innings, it seemed like business as usual for the Red Sox. After wasting a leadoff single in the first, the Sox turned the ball over to Jon Lester, who gave up a leadoff single of his own, and then had the runner score when the Mariners put together a pair of two-out singles.
Though Lester would get through a scoreless second, things would really get ugly in the third, when bad fastballs to Franklin Gutierrez and Kyle Seager resulted in back-to-back solo shots to lead off the frame. Just like that, and the deficit had grown to 3-0.
Meanwhile, Blake Beavan had held the Red Sox completely in check through five. The Sox had wasted doubles from James Loney and Jose Iglesias--the first hit the latter has managed in the majors this season--with their spotty lineup continuing to show its holes. All that would change, however, in the sixth.
It started with the one player who has been hitting consistently all along: Dustin Pedroia. Singling to right, Pedroia gave the Sox a much-needed leadoff baserunner, and then moved to second when Jacoby Ellsbury followed in kind. With two on, Cody Ross got a curveball over the outside part of the plate that stayed up just enough. He reached out, made good contact, and rounded the bases, tying the game with a three-run shot.
The Sox were not done in the sixth, however. With two down, Ryan Lavarnway stepped to the plate and got a high fastball. Finally displaying his power swing, Lavarnway hooked it to deep left field, and out of the park, giving the Sox the 4-3 lead.
The Mariners would not go down quietly, threatening against the bullpen, and even picking up a two-out triple against Andrew Bailey. A 2-2 cutter would jam Kyle Seager, however, getting him to fly out to right field to finally, finally give the Red Sox their win, 4-3.
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