All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 1-0 loss to the Mariners, complete with BSJ analysis and insight.
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Wade who?: Seattle starter Wade LeBlanc hardly qualifies as a household name. In fact, he's the very definition of journeyman, having bounced around with seven different teams in the big leagues over a 10-year career, compiling a thoroughly underwhelming career record of 32-35 before Saturday. But LeBlanc enjoyed his best day in the big leagues, allowing just two hits over 7.2 innings. LeBlanc allowed a leadoff single to Mookie Betts, then proceeded to retire the next 22 Red Sox hitters in a row. The Red Sox managed just three balls out of the infield -- all ordinary flyouts -- and struck out nine times against the lefty, who used a deft blend of his fastball, changeup and slider to subdue the Sox. He also consistently got ahead of Sox hitters, throwing first-pitch strikes to 20 of the 24 batters he faced.
Wright deserved better: Steven Wright continued his strong stretch, allowing just one run on five hits over seven innings. But on a night when his teammates could muster just two hits, that one run stood up and the knuckleballer was saddled with his first loss of the season. All the damage against Wright came in the third when a Dee Gordon single with one out, followed by singles from Mitch Haniger and Nelson Cruz, scored the first -- and only -- run of the game. After the third, Wright was nearly as efficient as LeBlanc, pitching to one batter over the minimum over the next four innings while allowing just three baserunners in that span. "He was great,'' said Alex Cora. "Steven has done an outstanding job. He gave us a chance to win the game and that's what we ask of all our starters.'' In three starts, Wright has given up just one run in 20.2 innings. He continues to make his case to remain in the rotation on a full-time basis, which is looking more and more likely as Drew Pomeranz will need considerable time to work his way back from the DL.
Sox' offense unpredictable: Go figure -- matched against the Mariners' best starter, James Paxton, on Friday night, the Red Sox managed six runs in less than three innings. Then, against LeBlanc, they were nearly no-hit for the second time this season. Through the week, it's been feast or famine for the Red Sox offense. They've played six games on their current road trip -- in three of them, they've scored five or more runs; in the other three, they've scored a total of four runs. On Saturday night, it wasn't as if they had a chance to play hit-and-run, or put baserunners in motion -- they didn't have any baserunners except briefly in the first, when Mookie Betts singled and was quickly erased with a double play and then again in the eighth when, after a two-out single by Eduardo Nunez, Mitch Moreland popped out to third two pitches later to end the inning.
TURNING POINT
In a game that saw the Red Sox put exactly one man on base through the first seven innings, it's hard to pinpoint a pivotal moment. But the Sox got a two-out single from Eduardo Nunez in the eighth, forcing LeBlanc from the game. Alex Cora opted to go with pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland, who faced Alex Colome with the potential tying run on first. But Moreland popped out to third and the Sox' lone threat of the game was quickly doused.
ONE UP
Brandon Workman: Taking over for Wright in the bottom of the eighth, Workman pitched a scoreless eighth and has yet to allow a run after being promoted from Pawtucket earlier this month.
ONE DOWN
J.D. Martinez: A rare off-night for the Red Sox slugger, who went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and never got the ball out of the infield.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"He reminded me of...Jamie Moyer. He was outstanding...He had a great night, and we didn't.'' -- Alex Cora on Seattle starter Wade LeBlanc.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The game marked the third time the Red Sox have been shutout this season.
- The Sox dropped below .500 (8-9) against lefty starters.
- This was the fourth game in the last five meetings between the two teams in Seattle to be decided by a run.
- Steven Wright's scoreless streak came to an end at 25.1 innings when the Mariners broke through in the 5th.
- Even with the loss, Red Sox starters have allowed two runs or fewer in 11 of the last 13 games.
- Rafael Devers saw his hitting streak snapped at 10 games.