Final: Mariners 6, Red Sox 5 - Starting pitching the issue again

SEATTLE -- On Friday, the Red Sox were able to overcome a poor outing from their starting pitcher with a late inning offensive explosion. They weren't as fortunate Saturday night.

Eduardo Rodriguez, who fell behind 2-0 in the first inning and was at 86 pitches after just four innings, went back out for the fifth and quickly surrendered a three-run homer to Jay Bruce, putting the game effectively out of reach and leading to a 6-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Alex Cora said before the game that he hoped for the lefty to give him six or seven innings to help save the bullpen, which no doubt influenced his decision to ask for another inning from Rodriguez. That backfired in a big way.

In three games to date, the Sox' starters have thrown 12.1 innings and allowed 22 hits and 19 runs, all but one of them earned.

The Sox mounted a threat in the ninth, with considerable help from Seattle third baseman Dylan Moore, who made errors on three consecutive plays, allowing three runs to score.  But Xander Bogaerts took three straight strikes, stranding the tying run at third base.



IN-GAME COMMENTS:

11:33     Tyler Thornburg on for the seventh. Trailing by four, there's not a lot of pressure here, but Thornburg would benefit from a solid, clean outing.

10:54     Cora felt the need to get another inning out of Rodriguez and it blew up on him. Not wanting to get into the bullpen mid-game the way he did the first two nights, he sent Rodrigues out for the fifth inning after 86 pitches, and three batters in, Jay Bruce smashed a fastball over the middle of the plate out to center for a three-run homer.

10:30    Strong throw from Blake Swihart to try to nab Gordon stealing second, but Holt can't glove the ball, and Gordon is off to third.

10:26  Red Sox bring Devers in on the grass with Healy on third to honor Dee Gordon's bunting ability/speed, but the move backfires when Gordon slaps a soft liner just over the head of Devers, scoring a run.

10:14   Terrific running catch by Betts, who sprints toward the line and snow-cones a ball from Santana.

10:10  An example of the improved athleticism from Devers? Steals second, then scores from second on a hard single to left by JD Martinez.

9:41   Andrew Benintendi fouls a ball off his right kneecap and goes down in a heap. But after a visit from the trainer, he remains in the game.

9:39   Bradley drives a sinker up the middle, scoring Moreland, who doubled and took third on a groundout.

9:28   Sharp double into the left field corner by Ryon Healy and the Mariners have a 2-0 lead with two runners in scoring position.

9:26   Tim Beckham serves a soft single into center, scoring Haniger from second.

9:17: Not the way the Sox want Rodriguez to start -- got ahead of Haniger 0-and-2, then went full count and then allowed a leadoff single. The Sox have been on him to be more efficient and put hitters away. Didn't do it there.

WHO: Red Sox vs. Mariners
WHEN: 6:10 p.m.
WHERE: T-Mobile Park
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez 13-5, 3.82) vs. RHP Mike Leake (10-10, 4.36)
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM

LINEUPS

RED SOX

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

MARINERS

Haniger CF
Santana LF
Encarnacion DH
Bruce RF
Beckham SS
Healy 1B
Murphy C
Moore 3B
Gordon 2B

WHAT'S UP: This is the third game of the four-game opening series between the teams with each club having won a game...In Friday's comeback for the Sox, they came overcame a deficit of five or more runs in their first win of the season for the first time since at least 1903...The last time they captured their first win of the season in a game in which they trailed going into the ninth inning was 2012, when they trailed the Blue Jays 2-1 in the ninth, but scored three times to win 4-2...Friday's win was the first in relief for Brian Johnson (scoreless eighth inning, three strikeouts) in his career...The game also feature only the fifth time in franchise history that the Sox hit at least four homers in either their first or second game of the season. They also did so in 2015, 2003, 1986, and 1965....Both Brock Holt (2B) and Blake Swihart (C) will be making their first starts of the season. Eduardo Rodriguez makes his 2019 debut Saturday night...Last year, he sets career bests in wins (13) and ERA (3.85)...Dating back to the end of the 2018 regular season, Mookie Betts has hit safely in his last eight games...Among Mariners hitters, Dee Gordon (5-for-8, one homer, two RBI) has had the most success against Rodriguez while Ryon Healy (1-for-15) has struggled mightily...The Sox were 19-4 in Rodriguez's 23 starts last season, including 9-1 in his 10 road starts...Mike Leake makes the start for Seattle. Rafael Devers (3-for-8, with one homer and four RBI) and Xander Bogaerts (5-for-12) have hit him well, while Jackie Bradley Jr. (3-for-14) has had a tough time.