The Boston Red Sox might have dropped their seventh straight game Saturday as they fell to the Seattle Mariners 7-3, but they showed some fire in the loss.
After David Ortiz was plunked by a pitch in the sixth inning, reliever Alex Wilson may or may not have retaliated in the seventh inning when he drilled Robinson Cano with a fastball in the seventh inning. The fireworks only continued in the eighth as David Ross was ejected — for the first time in his career — after arguing a check swing.
The Red Sox hope some of that competitiveness will turn into a win on Sunday, though, when they close out their 11-game homestand and three-game series with the Mariners.
Although Ortiz left the game with a left elbow contusion after being hit by the pitch, the slugger is back in the lineup for today’s game. Xander Bogaerts, however, is not. The 21-year-old shortstop was hit in the head by a Felix Hernandez changeup during Friday’s game and was held out of Saturday’s starting lineup as he underwent concussion testing. The Red Sox are being cautious with Bogaerts and he’ll sit once again with Brock Holt filling in at shortstop and leading off.
Allen Webster will get the start for Boston with Christian Vazquez behind the plate. The rookie right-hander, who will face Hisashi Iwakuma, has put together three solid outings since his rough start to the season, posting a 3.86 ERA during that span.
Check out both teams’ full lineups below.
Boston Red Sox (56-73)
Brock Holt, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Yoenis Cespedes, LF
Mike Napoli, 1B
Allen Craig, RF
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Mookie Betts, CF
Christian Vazquez, C
Allen Webster, RHP (3-1, 4.73 ERA)
Seattle Mariners (70-58)
Austin Jackson, CF
Dustin Ackley, LF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Kendrys Morales, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Logan Morrison, 1B
Chris Denorfia, RF
Mike Zunino, C
Chris Taylor, SS
Hisashi Iwakuma, RHP (12-6, 2.57 ERA)
