Final: Mariners 1, Red Sox 0 - LeBlanc mows down Red Sox

Limited to just two hits, the Red Sox were completely manhandled by lefty Wade LeBlanc, losing to the Seattle Mariners, 1-0, for their second straight one-run loss.

Mookie Betts opened the game with a single, but LeBlanc retired the next 22 in a row before allowing a two-out single to Eduardo Nunez in the eighth inning, the final batter he faced.Steven Wright was the tough-luck loser, allowing just one run over seven innings. The lone run of the game came in the third when Nelson Cruz singled home Dee Gordon from second base. Wright walked two and struck out four while suffering his first defeat of the season.

IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS

 

10:16: Nunez singles with two outs in the eighth for the second Sox hit of the game. There were 22 retired batters in between. LeBlanc leaves after 98 pitches.

10:07: A one-out walk and a 2-0 count on the next batter turns into an inning-ending double play for Steven Wright, who has allowed just five hits.

10:00: Make it 20-straight.

9:44: 17-straight Red Sox retired since Betts' single to leadoff the game.

9:38: Nice caught stealing by Vazquez to end the fifth.

9:27: Bogaerts was robbed of a hit on a spectacular diving play by Gordon (his second of the game). Bogaerts looked safe on replay, but a Red Sox challenge was denied.

https://twitter.com/TumbarelloHB/status/1008158918667890688

9:14: Only Betts' single for the Sox through four. They've struck out five times, including Martinez twice.

9:05: Back-to-back singles by the Mariners with two outs plates Dee Gordon with the first run of the game: RUN: Mariners 1, Red Sox 0

8:45: Two nice defensive plays in the hole by the Mariners against Devers and Nunez have Sox go in order in the second.

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1008151385144057856

8:25 p.m.: A leadoff single by Betts goes for naught as Benintendi grounds into a double play and Martinez strikes out on a dubious check swing that the umpire called himself. Martinez didn't like it.

 

WHO: Red Sox vs. Seattle Mariners
WHEN: 8:15 p.m.
WHERE: Safeco Field
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox and Mariners, two of the hottest teams in baseball, have split the first two games of their four-game series. The Sox won the opener, 2-1, on Thursday night and on Friday, held a 6-4 lead in the seventh before the Mariners rallied for a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth to steal a 7-6 victory. Even with the loss, the Red Sox have won four of five, nine of their last 13 and 20 of the last 29.  The Sox are now halfway through a 10-game road trip with a 4-1 record. Xander Bogaerts has homered in each of the first two games of the series and has four RBI. The Mariners are in the middle of a homestand and are 4-1 so far.
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Steven Wright (2-0, 1.21) vs. LHP Wade LeBlanc (2-0, 3.00).
TV/RADIO: FOX/WEEI 93.7 FM

LINEUPS



RED SOX

Betts RF
Benintendi LF
Martinez DH
Devers 3B
Bogaerts SS
Nunez 2B
Swihart 1B
Vazquez C
Bradley CF

MARINERS

Gordon 2B
Segura SS
Haniger RF
Cruz DH
Seager 3B
Healy 1B
Span LF
Zunino C
Heredia CF