BOSTON — The Red Sox’s offense suddenly is a juggernaut.
The Seattle Mariners sent their best pitcher — and one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball — to the mound Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park and Boston made him look like a chump. The Red Sox jumped all over Felix Hernandez en route to a 22-10 win.
Yes, you read the score correctly.
The Red Sox, who won Friday night’s series opener 15-1, have outhit the Mariners 47-20 in the series.
GAME IN A WORD
Coup.
The Red Sox unseated King Felix in convincing fashion. Hernandez, who entered the game with a 14-6 record and a 3.11 ERA, allowed 10 earned runs on 12 hits over 2 1/3 innings.
Hernandez surrendered home runs to Pablo Sandoval, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Alejandro De Aza before Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon took the baseball from his ace.
It’s amazing to think Hisashi Iwakuma threw a no-hitter for the Mariners just three days ago.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
The Red Sox posted back-to-back five spots in the second and third innings.
Sandoval and Bradley each homered in the second inning. Xander Bogaerts added an RBI single and David Ortiz added a sacrifice fly to give the Red Sox a 5-0 lead.
The Mariners grabbed two runs back in the top of the third inning, but the Red Sox’s offense kept its foot on the gas in the bottom of the frame. De Aza ripped a two-run homer, Brock Holt delivered a two-run double and Ortiz added his second sacrifice fly of the afternoon to extend Boston’s lead to 10-2.
Everything after that was just humorous.
ON THE BUMP
— Wade Miley followed in Joe Kelly’s footsteps. The left-hander, like Kelly in Friday’s win, did more than enough while pitching alongside a relentless Red Sox offense.
Miley allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings. He struck out eight, walked three and threw 113 pitches (68 strikes). Most importantly, he didn’t let Boston’s lengthy half innings at the plate affect his rhythm. He worked at his usual quick pace and turned in a solid effort.
— The Red Sox’s bullpen was awful (again). But whatever. This game was about Boston’s offense.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— The Red Sox finished with 26 hits. They went 11-for-20 with runners in scoring position.
— Bradley is on an absolute tear. He had a HUGE day.
The 25-year-old outfielder led Saturday’s hit parade with three doubles, two homers, seven RBIs and five runs scored. He showed power, used all fields and now looks like a legitimate big league hitter.
In fact, Bradley looks like an offensive force, even if defense always will be the hallmark of his game. He’s hitting .591 (13-for-22) with three homers, four doubles, two triples and 13 RBIs over his last five games.
— Bogaerts, who was the only player in Friday’s starting lineup to go hitless, made up for it with a 4-for-7 effort. He knocked in a pair of runs.
— Holt and Mookie Betts each had three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored atop the order.
— Ortiz went 3-for-3 with three RBIs. He had a double and two singles in addition to his two sac flies.
Big Papi still is sitting on 491 career home runs, though he came close to leaving the yard a few times.
— Blake Swihart reached base five times (two doubles, two singles and a walk). He had three RBIs and scored four runs.
— Sandoval left the game before the start of the fourth inning with a right elbow contusion. He was hit by a pitch in the third inning.
Sandoval’s replacement, Josh Rutledge, reached base four times (two singles and two walks) and scored four runs.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Is that good, you guys?
[tweet https://twitter.com/Shesta_Sox/status/632653535843381248 align=’center’%5D
UP NEXT
The Red Sox will try to make it three straight offensive explosions against the Mariners in the teams’ series finale Sunday afternoon. Henry Owens will face Vidal Nuno.
Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images
