Behind a dominant effort from Jon Lester and five RBIs by four players who began the season in the minor leagues, Boston rolled to a 5-1 win in the series opener.
The win, coupled with New York’s seventh loss in eight games, pulled the Sox within seven games of the wild card lead with 18 to play.
Daisuke Matsuzaka opposes Luke French in another must-win affair for Boston.
Red Sox (80-64) at Mariners (55-89)
Tuesday, Sept. 14, 10:10 p.m. NESN
Safeco Field, Seattle, Wash.
The Red Sox are 11-17 in Seattle since 2005.
RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-5, 4.70 ERA) vs. LHP Luke French (4-5, 3.90 ERA)
Matsuzaka has hit a bit of a wall in the second half of the season. He is 1-2 with a 7.04 ERA in his last five starts, allowing at least four runs in each outing and a career high-tying eight runs his last time out.
One of Matsuzaka’s few quality starts in the second half of the season came July 25 at Seattle. He allowed a run on four hits in six innings in a game the Sox eventually lost 4-2.
The righty, who turned 30 on Monday, is 5-2 with a 4.38 ERA on the road and 2-0 with a 2.23 mark in five career starts in Safeco Field.
Like Matsuzaka, French has enjoyed pitching in Seattle. He is 3-1 with a 2.01 ERA at home this year, having allowed a run on four hits in 14 innings over his last two outings at Safeco.
French has never faced the Red Sox.
Red Sox | Mariners |
---|---|
Marco Scutaro, SS Darnell McDonald, RF Victor Martinez, 1B Adrian Beltre, 3B David Ortiz, DH Jed Lowrie, SS Jason Varitek, C Bill Hall, LF Ryan Kalish, CF Daisuke Matsuzaka, P |
Ichiro Suzuki, RF Chone Figgins, 2B Russell Branyan, DH Franklin Gutierrez, CF Casey Kotchman, 1B Jose Lopez, 3B Michael Saunders, LF Adam Moore, C Josh Wilson, SS Lucas French, P |
Red Sox
Mariners
Red Sox
Mariners
The Red Sox have not won three in a row in nearly a month. If they want to keep dreaming of a miracle comeback it’s imperative they get that third straight win Tuesday.