Games 79-81 Red Sox Avoid being Swept by Mariners

Friday - July 3

The Red Sox absorbed a tough extra innings loss as they began a ten game home stand. Sox scored twice in the 1st but with three runs in the 4th the Mariners were ahead 4-2. A solo homer by J.D. Drew in the 7th brought them within a run. Seattle tacked on a run in the 8th but the Red Sox scored two times in their half of the 8th to tie the game. Tim Wakefield went 8 full innings giving up the 5R on 10H. Delcarmen and Papelbon had scoreless innings and the Ramirez gave up two runs in the 11th. Kottaras’s solo shot in the bottom of the inning wasn’t enough as the Sox lost the opener.

Final Score: Mariners 7 Sox 6
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 5 with a SB

Saturday – July 4

Sox with another one run loss are now 1-4 against the Mariners this year. Brad Penny deserved better even though Youk’s two run homer in the 2nd gave him the early lead. Single runs in the 3rd and 5th by the Mariners tied the game. In the meantime the Boston was held to just 4H by Garrett Olson. With the game tied in the 9th Saito walked the first three batters and a flair fell in behind the drawn in infield putting the Mariners up one. Former Sox, David Aardsma recorded his 17th save and that was all she wrote for this one.

Final Score: Mariners 3 Sox 2
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 4 with 3 LOB

Sunday – July 5

Red Sox managed to avoid the sweep with a big 5R seventh. In the 1st inning Pedroia and Ortiz both had solo homers and the Sox next scored on Ellsbury’s solo shot. While the Mariners had 4R (1 earned ) and 8H off Jon Lester in 6.2IP with 9K’s. In the 4th after a dropped throw at second by Pedey and with two outs Cedeno had a three run triple. When the Sox came to bat in the 7th a run down Miguel Batista replaced starter Brandon Morrow. A walk to Drew and a single by Pedey gave David Ortiz a chance to tie the game with a two out single which he did. Mark Lowe replaces Batista and walks Bay and Ellsbury as the go ahead run scores. Mark Kotsay brings in two more runs with a clutch single while another scored on a passed ball. The first half of the season ends with a nice come from behind win. The Red Sox are in first place with a record of 49-32 and are one game ahead of the second place New York Yankees.

Final Score: Sox 8 Mariners 4
Jacoby Watch: Batting 6th 1 for 2 with 2R, 2RBI, a S and a BB