Martinez 2 HRs, Chavis 5 RBIs As Red Sox Pound M's 11-2
BOSTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez hit two homers, rookie Michael Chavis drove in five runs and the surging Boston Red Sox beat the stumbling Seattle Mariners 11-2 to complete a three-game sweep Sunday at soggy Fenway Park.
It was the fifth straight win and 16th in 22 games for the defending World Series champions. Martinez had three RBIs and scored three runs, and Chavis finished with three singles.
Omar Narváez homered for Seattle (20-23), which has lost four in a row and 15 of 19 after opening 13-2. The Mariners were outscored 34-8 in the series, completing a 2-8 road trip.
Playing in steady light-to-moderate rain the entire time with temperatures in the mid-40s, the Mariners made five fielding blunders in the first three innings. Boston even had a few baserunners that appeared somewhat cautious in the conditions.
Spot starter Hector Velázquez (1-2) gave up two runs in five innings for the Red Sox.
Trailing 1-0, the Red Sox scored three runs with two outs in the first. Martinez got it started with his homer into the Green Monster seats off Marco Gonzales (5-2). Xander Bogaerts walked and Rafael Devers singled before Chavis hit a bloop to shallow right that second baseman Shed Long overran. Then he slipped and fell when he tried to retreat as the ball dropped in for an RBI single.
Devers scored on Narváez's passed ball to make it 3-1, and he appeared to step gingerly on the slippery plate.
In the second, Seattle right fielder Jay Bruce dropped Mookie Betts' fly ball, allowing Andrew Benintendi to score to make it 4-1. Long also dropped a pop the next inning, but got a force out.
Chavis had a two-run single in the fifth, and another in the seventh. Martinez's second homer also cleared the Monster.
Gonzales gave up four runs, two earned, in four innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners: Placed RHP Félix Hernández on the injured list with a strained right shoulder.
Red Sox: Manager Alex Cora said LHP David Price (left elbow tendinitis) threw a bullpen and "probably" will start against Houston next weekend. . Cora also said 2B Dustin Pedroia felt some minor soreness in his balky left knee and didn't play Saturday on his minor league rehab assignment. "In his own words, he was 'just being smart,'" Cora said. "Hopefully, it's nothing."
OTHER MISTAKES
Seattle 3B Tim Beckham went near the seats trying to catch a foul pop and watched the ball bounce on the dirt. It was ruled no play by the official scorer. ... Boston 1B Steve Pearce booted a grounder.
EXTRA WORK
The grounds crew spread drying agent around the basepaths and mound, raking the areas many times. Plate umpire Quinn Wolcott did his part by wiping the plate with a towel.
FIRST TIME OUT
Seattle RHP Parker Markel made his major league debut, giving up two runs.
UP NEXT
Mariners: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (2-1, 3.54 ERA) is set to start the opener of a two-game series Monday at home against Oakland.
Red Sox: Off on Monday before LHP Chris Sale (1-5, 4.50) is slated to start Tuesday versus Colorado. He fanned a season-high 14 over eight innings and allowed one run in a no-decision Wednesday at Baltimore.
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