As it is, the Red Sox improve their record to 42-37, while the Mariners fall to 34-47.
We’re out of here from the live blog, but stay tuned to NESN and NESN.com for all your postgame needs, news, and analysis.
Mid 10th, 2-1 Red Sox: It wasn’t quite number 400, but Ortiz more than did the job for the Sox there, driving in Pedroia with a sacrifice fly to right field.
We’re not yet sure if Alfredo Aceves is available to pitch the bottom of the inning, but whoever comes in will be trying to close out a series split for the Red Sox
End 9th, 1-1: Aaaaand to extra innings we go — again.
Interesting note there with Middlebrooks coming out of the game for Mike Aviles, moving Punto over to third. We’re not sure exactly what happened with Middlebrooks, but the replacement suggests an injury.
This would have been the one argument to keep Kevin Youkilis around, as you can never have too much insurance. Hopefully for the Red Sox this isn’t the case, but it would be quite ironic if Middlebrooks went down for any extended period a week after jettisoning Youkilis.
Mid 9th, 1-1: Are we headed to extra innings for the second consecutive game?
The Mariners have one more chance to prevent that, but as of right now that’s where we stand. At least it wasn’t a 10 p.m. local start again, right?
Mid 8th, 1-1: Apparently Dustin Pedroia didn’t get the memo about Safeco’s cavernous outfield.
The smallest Red Sox player is the one swinging the biggest bat right now, as with one swing Pedroia ties the game up at one.
Now it will likely be a battle of the bullpens, and the Red Sox hope that theirs continues its recent roll — last night’s 11th inning nonwithstanding.
End 7th, 1-0 Mariners: It almost sounds like a broken record, but, again, the Red Sox bullpen is absolutely doing the job.
Sunday afternoon it’s been Matt Albers and Scott Atchison, but after Doubront only lasted 4 1/3 innings, the club absolutely need a pick-me-up from the pen.
Mid 7th, 1-0 Mariners: They don’t call it the hot corner for nothing, not that Kyle Seager didn’t already know.
Seager’s been tested by the Red Sox several times Sunday afternoon, grabbing a couple hard liners to his left, and just now taking care of Shoppach’s liner right at him.
The Red Sox have hit a few balls very hard tonight, but thus far have nothing to show for it.
End 6th, 1-0 Mariners: After a couple questionable throws down to second earlier (including a throwing error) it was definitely a positive to see Shoppach catch Ackley at second there.
Truthfully, neither of the Red Sox’ catchers will ever be winning a gold glove, but they each should more than make up for their defensive deficiencies with the bat.
Mid 6th, 1-0 Mariners: With two strikeouts and a walk, David Ortiz hasn’t looked like an All Star tonight, but the burly designated hitter is in fact heading to Kansas City to represent the Red Sox.
If you’d like to hear some thoughts straight from the man on his most recent Midsummer Classic nod, you’re in luck. Earlier Sunday Ortiz took some time to talk with the NESN First Pitch team, calling it an “honor” to play for the American League.
End 5th, 1-0 Mariners: It’s probably safe to say at this point that Doubront just didn’t come in to the game with his best stuff. However, it’s been a trend this month that has to worry the Red Sox.
After posting ERAs of 4.09 and 3.71 in April and May, respectively, Doubront came in to Sunday with a mark of 5.83 in June. Though that will come down after Sunday afternoon, Doubront is pretty lucky to not see that number rise.
Matt Albers comes in to relieve Doubront (after 103 pitches in 4 1/3 innings) with the bases loaded and, again, the Red Sox bullpen does the job, with Albers getting Montero to ground in to a 5-3 double play.
Mid 5th, 1-0 Mariners: Once again, runs are at a premium in this game, and that might be problematic for the Red Sox, as Jason Vargas looks to be establishing a very nice rhythm. In fact, he’s only given up one walk and a Punto’s bunt single over his last 11 batters.
End 4th, 1-0 Mariners: Once again, Doubront does well to work himself out of some trouble — although this time he created it himself with two walks to begin the inning.
Despite his high pitch counts, Doubront actually hasn’t walked many, maintaining an excellent strikeout to walk ration. However, currently standing at 86 pitches, he likely won’t be much longer for this game.
Mid 3rd, 1-0 Mariners: There are a couple interesting fashion statements out on the field today.
For one, Doubront is sporting the front of his jersey open. Granted, he’s wearing a shirt underneath, but it’s still a unique look.
Also, how about Brendan Ryan’s Fu Manchu? Just… wow. Not sure what to say about that, but it kind of looks like he should be in an octogon rather than a diamond.
End 3rd, 1-0 Mariners: Felix Doubront has mostly not pitched like a rookie this season. Beyond the stats, he’s shown a certain composure on the hill that is uncharacteristic of most 24-year-olds.
That being said, there’s one area in which Doubront is still showing his relative inexperience. It may be too early in his career and unfair to expect yet, but for Doubront to take the next step as a pitcher he needs to learn to pitch to contact better, lower his pitch counts and work deeper in to games. Already at 64 pitches on the afternoon, Doubront likely won’t work deep in to this game, either, as he’s had exactly one outing where he went as many as seven innings.
Mid 3rd, 0-0: Ortiz works a walk, but otherwise the Red Sox go down quietly against Vargas.
Are we in for a sequel to “Scoreless in Seattle?”
End 2nd, 0-0: Just a random thought, but it’s kind of impressive just how similar Dustin Ackley’s swing is to Ichiro’s. Both of them are halfway out of the batter’s box by the time they finish their stride.
Aside from that, Doubront looks very comfortable through two innings. We could well be in for another pitcher’s duel — the Safeco specialty.
Mid 2nd, 0-0: This game is already starting to become very familiar, as the Red Sox wasted multiple chances with multiple runners on base Saturday evening, as well.
Another side note, the Kevin Youkilis trade was designed to give Will Middlebrooks a vote of confidence and an assurance of an everday role at third base, which he clearly earned.
However, in the post-Youkilis era, Middlebrooks is now 4-for-27 after that strikeout. He’s young, and his hot streaks and cold slumps will be more pronounced, but it’s not exactly what the Red Sox were hoping for from the 23-year-old.
End 1st, 0-0: Is it too early to add Jesus Montero to the list of disappointing young Mariners hitters?
Yesterday in the live blog we discussed Justin Smoak, the big things that were expected of him and his failure to live up to the expectations thrust upon him as a prospect. Will Montero suffer the same Safeco fate?
Last year in a stint with the Yankees, Montero absolutely raked, posting a .590 slugging percentage in 61 at-bats, and the Mariners felt desperate enough for offense that they were willing to trade Michael Pineda to get Montero. Thus far, however, Montero is slugging just .389 in 265 at-bats — a much larger sample size.
If the Mariners want to build for the future they really need young bats to start putting up numbers, and right now much of their hopes ride on Montero.
Mid 1st, 0-0: The Red Sox go down quietly in the first inning against Vargas, who looks to have his offspeed stuff (a Johan Santana-lite changeup and a sweeping curveball) working in the early going.
The lefty has had two very solid, innings-eating seasons the last two years. However, contrary to what you might expect, Vargas was a much better pitcher away from Safeco in 2011, posting a 4.56 ERA at home as opposed to a 3.79 mark away from the Pacific Northwest.
4:10: We have first pitch! For those wondering, the temperature in Seattle is 61 degrees.
2:45 p.m.: Here are this afternoon’s starting lineups:
Red Sox (41-37)
Brent Lillibridge CF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
David Ortiz DH
Cody Ross RF
Adrian Gonzalez 1B
Will Middlebrooks 3B
Daniel Nava LF
Kelly Shoppach C
Nick Punto SS
Felix Doubront P
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
Jason Vargas P
8 a.m.: This series has been more than a little bit heartbreaking for the Red Sox. Just as it looked like the team was having some sustained success and poised to make a serious run at the American League East crown or one of the two wild card slots, the Sox have suffered two walk off losses to a Seattle Mariners team that realistically isn’t going anywhere this season.
Aside from Friday, when they clubbed four home runs to back Aaron Cook’s 81-pitch shutout, the Red Sox offense has looked to have falled victim to Safeco field, where the cavernous outfield and Pacific Northwest marine layer are notorious for tempering hitting. The irony is that during the series, the Sox have stuck with just one lineup, which may have been the kind of offensive continuity the Sox were hoping for, but not necessarily the output manager Bobby Valentine had in mind.
As the Sox look to salvage a split in the four game series, they turn to Felix Doubront (8-4, 4.54) who will be opposed by veteran Jason Vargas (7-7, 4.54) in what, on paper at least, looks to be a very even matchup. The curious detail about Vargas however, is that despite pitching half his games in Safeco, he’s given up 21 home runs. That’s something that might benefit David Ortiz, who continues to search for his 400th career longball.
First pitch will be at 4:10 p.m. locally, but you can tune in to NESN beginning at 3 p.m. for all your pregame needs.
