Rick Porcello, Christian Vazquez Start In Red Sox’s Middle Game Vs. Mariners

BOSTON — The Seattle Mariners lit up Red Sox starter Roenis Elias for seven runs over four innings in Friday’s series opener, but Rick Porcello has a chance to turn things around.

The right-hander is coming off a weird start against the Minnesota Twins in which he gave up four runs, but thanks to some poor defense, only one of them was earned. Porcello has struggled at times after having a great April, but he’ll have the advantage Saturday going up against Mariners starter Adrian Sampson, who’s playing in his first major league game of the season.

Christian Vazquez will catch for Porcello as usual, and he’ll bat ninth. Travis Shaw, who had been slumping this month, moves up one spot in the order to No. 7 after hitting safely in his last four games.

Here are both teams’ lineups for Saturday.

RED SOX (37-29)
Mookie Betts, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Travis Shaw, 3B
Chris Young, LF
Christian Vazquez, C

Rick Porcello, RHP (7-2, 3.81 ERA)

MARINERS (36-31)
Leonys Martin, CF
Seth Smith, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Adam Lind, 1B
Steve Clevenger, C
Nori Aoki, LF
Ketel Marte, SS

Adrian Sampson, RHP (7-4, 3.25 ERA with Triple-A Tacoma)

Thumbnail photo via Brad Rempel/USA TODAY Sports Images