Josh Beckett and Jacoby Ellsbury continued their streak of excellent play, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners, giving the M's their franchise record-tying 14th straight loss on Saturday at Fenway Park.
Beckett tossed seven innings of one-run ball, allowing seven hits and striking out seven, while Ellsbury went 2-for-4 with a two-run single in the seventh inning to put Boston on top by one run.
Mike Carp was responsible for the Mariners' lone run, hitting a solo home run to deep right center in the seventh inning. Dustin Ackley (3-for-5) had the best day at the plate for Seattle, collecting a third of the M's nine hits.
After Ellsbury's two-run single in the seventh, he scored later in the inning on a wild pitch to give Boston its third and final score of the game. In addition to Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia was also 2-for-4.
Daniel Bard picked up his 24th hold after tossing a clean eighth inning, giving up one hit and one walk while striking out one. Jonathan Papelbon allowed one hit and had a strikeout en route to his 23rd save of the season.
Blake Beavan was chased from the game after six and two thirds innings after giving up three earned on nine hits and striking out four. Ex-Red Sox pitcher David Pauley entered the game, gave up one hit and was pulled without recording a single out. Aaron Laffey pitched one and a third innings, surrendering only a walk.
The win marked Terry Francona's 1,000th victory as a manager, 715 of which have come at the helm of the Red Sox.
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