Red Sox Set to Square Off With Mariners in Search of Win No. 80

The Red Sox’ final series on the West Coast begins Monday when they pay a visit to Seattle to take on the last-place Mariners.

The previous visit to Safeco Field resulted in a frustrating series for Boston. It took the first two games but blew a 6-1 lead in the opener and needed 13 innings to win that one.

In the third game Jon Lester first lost a perfect game and then a shutout in a 5-1 setback and Hideki Okajima melted down in the series finale, a comeback 4-2 win for Seattle.

Lester returns to start the opener Monday in search of a career-high 17th win.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox (79-64) at Mariners (55-88)
Monday, Sept. 13, 10:10 p.m. NESN
Safeco Field, Seattle, Wash.

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HEAD TO HEAD

The Red Sox are 10-17 in Seattle since 2005.

PITCHING MATCHUP

LHP Jon Lester (16-8, 3.26 ERA) vs. RHP Doug Fister (5-11, 3.84 ERA)

The last time Lester appeared in his home state back on July 24 he took a perfect game into the sixth before an error and a home run suddenly damaged his effort.

That was one of four straight losses Lester has suffered in the second half of the season, during which he is just 5-5 with a 4.21 ERA.

In five career starts in Safeco Field Lester is 1-2 with a 5.28 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.

Fister has been dramatically better at home all season. Although he is just 3-6 in Safeco Field he owns an impressive 3.21 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and a .248 opponents’ batting average at home.

The lanky right-hander has allowed two earned runs in both of his starts against the Sox this season.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Outfielder Ryan Kalish is 9-for-28 (.321) with 10 RBIs in his last nine games.
• First baseman Mike Lowell is hitless in his last 17 at-bats.
• Right-hander Scott Atchison has a 2.22 ERA and six holds in his last 18 appearances.

Mariners

• Right fielder Ichiro Suzuki leads the American League with 186 hits. He could join Ty Cobb and Pete Rose as the only players to lead a league in hits at least seven times in a career.
• Suzuki was the only player in the Mariners’ starting lineup Sunday with a batting average over .250.
• Seattle is 15-19 against A.L. East teams but 31-60 against the other two divisions.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia had season-ending surgery Sept. 3 on his broken left foot. He is expected to be fully healed for spring training.
• Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (ribs) will not resume any baseball-related activities until after the season ends.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron had season-ending surgery Friday to repair an abdominal tear.
• First baseman Kevin Youkilis had successful surgery to repair the torn right adductor muscle on his right hand. He will miss the remainder of the season.
• Left-hander Felix Doubront has pain behind his left clavicle. He has not pitched since Aug. 31 and will not join the team on the trip.
• Right-hander Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

Mariners

• Outfielder Milton Bradley is likely out for the year following surgery to relieve right knee tendinitis last month.
• Shortstop Jack Wilson is out for the year with a broken bone in his right hand.
• Left-hander Erik Bedard had season-ending shoulder surgery Aug. 6.

OUTLOOK

Lester has struggled at times in his home state. Now would be a good time for that to change.