Final, Red Sox 8-1: Pedro Beato gave up a run in the ninth inning, but the Red Sox bounced back from Monday’s disappointing loss to take down the Mariners in Tuesday’s series opener.
Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia and Jarrod Saltalamacchia all went deep as part of Boston’s offensive attack, and Brandon Workman pitched six solid innings to guide the Red Sox to an 8-2 victory.
End 8th, Red Sox 8-1: Jarrod Saltalamacchia gave the Red Sox a little extra cushion.
Saltalamacchia hit his first home run since June 9 in the eighth inning. The power drought lasted 123 at-bats.
Salty’s homer — his ninth of the season — was of the two-run variety, as Mike Napoli singled into left field prior to the blast, which sailed over the Red Sox’ bullpen.
Pedro Beato will enter to pitch the ninth inning with a seven-run lead.
Mid 8th, Red Sox 6-1: Matt Thornton easily disposed of the M’s in the eighth inning.
Thornton needed just one pitch to get his first out of the inning, and he cruised from there.
Nick Franklin was retired on a first-pitch popout, and Thornton then struck out Kyle Seager and Kendrys Morales.
Seager and Morales both appeared to go down on sliders, with Seager striking out looking and Morales whiffing.
End 7th, Red Sox 6-1: The Red Sox’ offense has been quieted since posting its sixth run back in the fourth inning.
The top of the Boston order was finally held in check in the seventh, as Brandon Maurer sat down Jacoby Ellsbury, Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia in order.
What’s most impressive about Maurer’s two innings of work is that all six outs he has recorded have come on the ground. Ellsbury, Victorino and Pedroia all grounded out in the seventh inning.
Matt Thornton will pitch the eighth inning for Boston.
Mid 7th, Red Sox 6-1: You really can’t say enough about the job that Craig Breslow has done this season.
Breslow pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning after Brandon Workman went the first six.
Michael Saunders and Brad Miller each grounded out in the seventh inning, while Henry Blanco popped out to Jose Iglesias in foul territory along the third-base line.
End 6th, Red Sox 6-1: Brandon Maurer replaced Joe Saunders in the sixth inning, and he kept everything on the ground.
Jonny Gomes, Stephen Drew and Jose Iglesias all grounded out as part of a perfect frame for Maurer.
The second groundout required a nice scoop by first baseman Justin Smoak. Shortstop Brad Miller made a good play while ranging up the middle, but his throw was in the dirt and Smoak was forced to pick it.
Iglesias grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Iglesias broke his bat on the comebacker, but it didn’t deter Maurer’s concentration.
Brandon Workman will exit after six solid innings, and Craig Breslow will enter the game for Boston.
Workman allowed just one run, and it came in the first inning. He found himself in a jam in the sixth inning, but the rookie worked through it to escape unscathed. The right-hander struck out nine and walked one while throwing 103 pitches (69 strikes).
Mid 6th, Red Sox 6-1:Â Brandon Workman has shown a lot in his brief major league stint. Perhaps most impressive is his poise.
Workman made some big pitches after running into trouble in the sixth inning, and he avoided any damage on the scoreboard.
Workman struck out Nick Franklin to begin the sixth, but the Mariners then strung together three straight singles to load the bases with one out.
Typically, when you see that type of situation with a rookie on the mound, it’s cause for concern. Workman not only wasn’t fazed, but he also got stronger following the three hits.
After a mound visit, Workman struck out Michael Morse and Justin Smoak to end the inning. Both strikeouts came on a fastball, showing Workman’s willingness to rear back when in a bind.
End 5th, Red Sox 6-1: That was likely Joe Saunders’ last inning. It was actually a good one, too.
Saunders, who has been touched up, retired the Red Sox in order in the fifth, meaning that Seattle’s bullpen will take over with no more than a five-run deficit in place.
David Ortiz began the bottom of the fifth inning with a ground ball to first base that Justin Smoak handled himself for the out.
Mike Napoli then made good contact on a line drive, but it was right at Nick Franklin at second base for the second out.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia ended the inning with a ground ball to short.
While we have a quick break in the action, I’d like to direct you to our MLB trade deadline live blog. There are going to be plenty of rumors flying all the way up until 4 p.m. Wednesday, so be sure to check out the live blog frequently to see the latest.
Click here for NESN.com’s trade deadline live blog >>
Mid 5th, Red Sox 6-1: Brandon Workman worked another clean inning in the fifth.
Workman retired Michael Saunders, Henry Blanco and Brad Miller in order. All three outs came in the air, as Saunders flied out to right field, Blanco popped out to second base and Gomes flied out to left field.
Workman has thrown 72 pitches (48 strikes) through the first five innings, so he’s in great shape.
End 4th, Red Sox 6-1: The top of the order is still doing damage.
Shane Victorino hit a blooper down the right-field line with two outs, and he ended up racing into second base with a double.
Dustin Pedroia then plated Victorino with a base hit into left-center field.
Pedroia actually thought about taking two bases, but he threw on the brakes halfway between first and second, at which point he stumbled. Pedroia was then thrown out as he tried to retreat to first.
The Red Sox’ baserunning has been suspect of late. The Daniel Nava debacle is obviously at the forefront of that, but Jose Iglesias was thrown out while trying to leg out a double in the third inning as well.
Fortunately for the Red Sox, Pedroia’s baserunning blunder came after Victorino scored the sixth run, and Boston appears to be in control right now.
Mid 4th, Red Sox 5-1: The fourth inning was Brandon Workman’s best yet.
Workman made quick work of both Raul Ibanez and Michael Morse. Ibanez looked at a curveball in an 0-2 count, while Morse struck out swinging on a 94-mph heater.
Workman really mixed his pitches well in the fourth inning, and the two strikeouts reflect that.
The inning ended with a great play by Stephen Drew. Justin Smoak — pardon the pun — smoked a line drive up the middle, but Drew made a diving snag on the other side of second base.
End 3rd, Red Sox 5-1: Joe Saunders has gotten rocked thus far. He was much better in the third inning, though.
Saunders retired the Red Sox in order, giving him his first scoreless inning of the game.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia grounded down to Kyle Seager at third base and Jonny Gomes hit a little roller down to first base for the first two outs.
Saunders capped the inning by striking out Stephen Drew.
Mid 3rd, Red Sox 5-1: Brandon Workman carried the momentum that he started to establish in the second inning into the third inning.
Kyle Seager singled with two outs, but Workman was otherwise in control, tossing his second straight scoreless inning.
Brad Miller started the inning with a flyout, and Kendrys Morales ended it in a similar manner. In between, Workman struck out Nick Franklin in addition to giving up Seager’s single.
Franklin, who doubled in the first inning, struck out on a curveball, but Workman has featured mostly fastballs through the first three innings.
End 2nd, Red Sox 5-1: The top of the Red Sox’ order really did some damage in the second inning.
Joe Saunders tossed a 2-1 slider over the heart of the plate, and Jacoby Ellsbury’s eyes lit up. Ellsbury sent the pitch sailing into the Mariners’ bullpen in right field for his fifth home run of the season.
Ellsbury’s solo blast made it 3-1, but the Red Sox’ offense wasn’t done. Shane Victorino singled into left field, which set the table for Dustin Pedroia, who has been struggling since inking his new, eight-year contract extension.
John Farrell noted before Tuesday’s game that Pedroia hasn’t had a whole lot of luck lately, but the second baseman’s fortunes turned around in the second inning. Pedroia sent a two-run homer into the Monster seats to extend Boston’s lead to 5-1.
Mid 2nd, Red Sox 2-1:Â Sailing was much smoother for Brandon Workman in the second, as the right-hander allowed a two-out walk but nothing else.
Workman struck out Michael Morse and Henry Blanco and got Justin Smoak to fly out to the warning track in left.
Jose Iglesias is due up first in the home half of the inning. — ZC
End 1st, Red Sox 2-1:Â During the last series between these two teams, the winning squad in all four games scored eight or more runs. That may be the case again tonight, as the Red Sox plated a pair of runs in their first round of at-bats against Joe Saunders,
Saunders started well, striking out Jacoby Ellsbury to open the frame. Ellsbury fouled off two of the first three pitches he faced before whiffing on a 1-2 changeup.
Shane Victorino then ripped a double just inside the third-base bag, and Mariners shortstop Nick Franklin booted an easy ground ball from Dustin Pedroia, putting runners on the corners with one down.
Victorino didn’t stay at third for long, though, as Saunders’ second pitch to David Ortiz bounced off catcher Henry Blanco’s glove and rolled to the backstop, allowing the right fielder to trot home with ease. Ortiz then grounded a base hit through a wide-open left side of the infield, bringing in Pedroia from second with Boston’s second run.
After Saunders got Mike Napoli to strike out swinging, Jarrod Saltalamacchia reached on a ground ball that Miller was again unable to handle, though this one was ruled an infield hit. Saunders then walked Jonny Gomes, but Stephen Drew grounded out with the bases loaded to end the threat. — ZC
Mid 1st, Mariners 1-0:Â The scoreboard operator got an early start in this one, as the Mariners pushed a run across in the top of the first.
After leadoff man Brad Miller grounded out to Dustin Pedroia to open play, Nick Franklin poked a double into right field to put a man in scoring position with one out.
Kyle Seager then flied out into the triangle in center field, allowing Franklin to easily tag up and reach third, and Kendrys Morales singled up the middle to bring the 22-year-old home with the game’s first run.
Raul Ibanez struck out swinging to end the inning, but the Red Sox will now have to fight their way out of an early hole.
Jacoby Ellsbury, Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia are due up first against left-hander Joe Saunders. — ZC
7:12 p.m.: Brandon Workman’s first pitch to Brad Miller is in for strike one, and we are underway.
7:06 p.m.: Former Red Sox manager Joe Morgan was just honored with an on-field ceremony. He threw his first ceremonial first pitch over John Farrell’s head. His second pitch was right down the pike.
6:12 p.m.: After the pregame discussion regarding Monday’s blown call and the potential for expanded replay across Major League Baseball ended, we did discover some other Red Sox tidbits.
Farrell sounds encouraged by Clay Buchholz’s progress. Buchholz threw long toss from 120 feet Monday, and he also pitched with a catcher down on flat ground. Buchholz still needs to throw off a mound, and there’s no timetable for his return.
When asked if Buchholz’s status impacts the Red Sox’ trade deadline approach, Farrell said that he’s comfortable with how the rotation is situated. Farrell pointed to Tuesday’s starter, Brandon Workman, as one reason why, saying that the 24-year-old brings “intrigue” and “promise.”
Farrell thinks that August will be a major challenge, but he said that Buchholz’s eventual return will be as big as any potential trade deadline transaction.
As far as the Red Sox’ other internal starting options, Farrell said that it boils down to three: Steven Wright, Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster.
5:43 p.m.: Much of the conversation following the Red Sox’ loss Monday understandably centered on Jerry Meals’ missed call. That talk has lingered over into Tuesday, as John Farrell spent much of his time during pregame media availability answering questions about both the situation and the potential for expanded replay in baseball.
Farrell said that he appreciates Meals admitting after Monday’s game that he made the wrong call, even though it doesn’t change much. Farrell said that Meals’ missed call, if anything, just furthers the debate about the use of expanded replay, which the Red Sox skipper is in favor of.
Farrell said that he understands MLB faces challenges when it comes to implementing expanded replay, but he still thinks that replay could be used to a greater extent given all of the technology that we have nowadays. When asked if he’d support a one-challenge system on safe/out calls, Farrell said that he’d vote definitely for it.
Click here for more from Farrell >>
5:15 p.m.:Â Tuesday’s lineups are below.
Red Sox (63-44)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Jonny Gomes, LF
Stephen Drew, SS
Jose Iglesias, 3B
Brandon Workman, RHP (0-1, 4.40 ERA)
Mariners (50-55)
Brad Miller, SS
Nick Franklin, 2B
Kyle Seager, 3B
Kendrys Morales, DH
Raul Ibanez, LF
Mike Morse, RF
Justin Smoak, 1B
Michael Saunders, CF
Henry Blanco, C
Joe Saunders, LHP (9-9, 4.48 ERA)
8 a.m. ET: The Red Sox need to turn the page.
After taking two straight in Baltimore, the Red Sox dropped a 2-1 decision to the Rays in a makeup game Monday. It wasn’t your typical loss, though, as some poor baserunning by Daniel Nava and a missed call by home plate umpire Jerry Meals helped Tampa Bay secure the victory.
Red Sox manager John Farrell said after Monday’s game that Meals made a “terrible” call on what would have been the tying run for Boston. Nava, who was called out despite sliding under Jose Molina’s tag, chalked it up to the human element of baseball.
Click here for the Red Sox’ postgame reaction >>
Meals admitted after the game that he missed the call, although that doesn’t change the outcome of the game or the impact that the call may have had on the standings. With a win Monday, the Red Sox would have extended their lead in the AL East to 1 1/2 games. Instead, they face a half-game deficit.
The Red Sox will look to make sure that Monday’s blown call doesn’t linger. Their first opponent will be the Mariners, who arrive in town Tuesday for a three-game set.
Brandon Workman will go up against Joe Saunders in the series opener at Fenway Park. Tuesday’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m., so be sure to join the fun on NESN and with NESN.com’s live blog.
