Final: Red Sox 9, Mariners 3 - ERod earns sixth straight with plenty of support

The Red Sox earned themselves a series split against the Seattle Mariners, hammering three homers and riding the solid pitching of Eduardo Rodriguez to a 9-3 victory.

Rodriguez picked up his sixth straight win, allowing two runs over six innings. He got plenty of backing with long balls from Xander Bogaerts (two-run shot), Rafael Devers (three-run belt) and Jackie Bradley Jr (solo). The power outburst came a day after they were shutout and limited to just two singles on Saturday night.

Boston is now 5-2 on their three-city road trip with three games remaining.

 

IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:

6:15   At 113 pitches, that would seem to be it for Rodriguez. He was effective (two runs), overpowering at times (nine strikeouts), but as is often the case, not very efficient, lasting just six innings.

5:45  J.D. Martinez's at-bats have been a study in contrasts today. The first at-bat was a one-pitch at-bat; over the last two at-bats, however, he's seen a total of 20 pitches.

5:37  Eduardo Rodriguez has top stuff today, mixing his cutter, changeup and fastball with effectiveness. His last six outs have all been strikeouts.

5:04  Rafael Devers, who saw his 10-game hitting streak come to an end Saturday night, is off on another run. He had a single in his first at-bat, then crushed a low slider off the scoreboard on the overhang in right for a three-run homer.

5:01  An aggressive at-bat by Moreland, who swings at the first pitch with the bases loaded and drives a single up the middle to score two and snap a personal 0-for-11 skid at the plate.

4:39  A little bit of tough luck for the Red Sox in the second -- Mitch Moreland belted the ball about 400 feet, but hit it to straightaway center, the deepest part of Safeco. Then, Brock Holt hits a hard  liner -- but right at first baseman Ryon Healy.

4:27 Perhaps the least likely member of the Red Sox lineup to beat out an infield hit -- J.D. Martinez -- reaches to open the second inning.

WHO: Red Sox vs. Seattle Mariners
WHEN: 4:10 p.m.
WHERE: Safeco Field
WHAT'S UP: After winning the opener of the series Tuesday, the Red Sox have dropped the last two, including a 1-0 setback Saturday in which they managed just two hits -- and none from the second inning through the seventh. The Sox will try to avoid losing their second series in the last three this afternoon in the finale. The Mariners, meanwhile, continue to roll, with six wins in their last seven games.
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (8-1, 3.64) vs. RHP Mike Leake (7-3, 4.26)
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM

LINEUPS:

RED SOX

Betts RF
Benintendi LF
Bogaetrts SS
Martinez DH
Moreland 1b
Devers 3B
Holt 2B
Vazquez C
Bradley CF
MARINERS 

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