Red Sox Wrap: Boston Demolishes Mariners Pitching In Blowout Win

BOSTON — The Red Sox crushed the Mariners, 14-7. to open up their three-game series at Fenway Park on Monday night, notching their strongest offensive performance since the All-Star break.

With the victory, Boston improves to 56-49 while Seattle drops to 56-52.

Check out the full box score here.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Boston desperately needed to put its rough weekend series against the rival New York Yankees in its rearview mirror, and Red Sox manager Alex Cora couldn’t have asked for a more dominant performance from the lineup.

It all began in the third inning when a scoreless tie (quickly) turned into the start of a one-sided affair. Boston teed off against Seattle’s starting pitcher Logan Gilbert, charging the right-hander with seven runs off eight hits — the most recorded by the Red Sox in a single inning since April 17 versus the Chicago Cubs — including five for extra bases. Gilbert, who only managed to record two outs in the inning, walked off the mound with a 69-pitch count before Mariners skipper Scott Servais had seen enough.

However… the run-pouring punishment didn’t just end with Gilbert. In fact, it was just the start of Seattle’s long night.

The Red Sox scored a combined seven more runs throughout the following three innings, crushing a total of three home runs alongside eight doubles. Masataka Yoshida finished as the game’s leader in RBIs (four). The 31-year-old designated hitter entered the night hitting .318 with 21 hits and 16 RBIs — Yoshida’s highest of any month this season — in 66 at-bats in July. Needless to say, the offense going berserk made setting down the Mariners’ offense infinitely easier for Boston’s recently struggling pitching staff.

Seattle was out-hit, 16-10, by Boston once the dust settled.

Overshadowed by the master class performance on display in the batter’s box was the continuation of Red Sox relief pitching struggles. Trey Wingenter entered the game in the sixth inning for Boston and turned Seattle’s 11-run deficit into a seven-run run deficit. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and the rest of the organization’s front office still have time — albeit less than 24 hours — to consider whether or not to ride with the team’s pitching staff as is or acquire some more depth before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Yoshida finished an elite showing at the plate going 3-for-5 with his fifth home run and ninth double of the season.

— Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta set the tone on the mound with a quality start. The 31-year-old pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs to the Mariners of six hits while striking out 10 batters. Seattle went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position when facing Pivetta, allowing the eight-year veteran to improve his ERA to 4.47.

— Mariners trade deadline addition Randy Arozarena recorded his first home run with Seattle by taking Pivetta deep in the sixth inning. The long ball marked the 29-year-old’s 16th of the season.

ON DECK AT NESN
The Red Sox and Mariners will continue their three-game set on Tuesday night at Fenway Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 P.M. ET — over an hour following the MLB trade deadline — and you can watch the game, plus pregame coverage, live on NESN.