Red Sox Blow 4-0 Lead, Lose In Seattle
SEATTLE -- Over the first 16 1/2 innings of the series at Safeco Field, the Boston Red Sox seemed to have finally found the consistency that eluded them for most of the past three weeks.
Then came the bottom of the eighth inning Tuesday, when things started to unravel and continued to do so well after the final pitch.
Following an incredible eighth-inning meltdown that saw the Seattle Mariners rally from a four-run deficit to beat the Red Sox 5-4, Boston took another hit when first baseman Hanley Ramirez slipped walking into the dugout and injured his left wrist. Ramirez was scheduled to undergo tests on the wrist, the results of which were not known as of late Tuesday night.
It was a case of adding injury to insult after the Red Sox (58-47) squandered a seemingly comfortable lead.
Robinson Cano's three-run, eighth-inning home run off new Boston reliever Fernando Abad completed Seattle's comeback while knocking the Red Sox two games back in the American League East.
The rally came after Boston starter David Price cruised through seven scoreless innings. The left-hander survived a line drive off his left thigh, but he fell apart in the eighth.
"I'm thinking he's probably looking at a potential (complete-game) shutout, as well as he was pitching," Boston manager John Farrell said. "Unfortunately, it turned kind of quick."
Price gave up four hits to open the eighth, setting the table for a five-run inning by the Mariners (53-52).
With one out, Cano hit a 1-2 pitch from Abad into the right field seats.
Abad, who was acquired in a deadline trade with the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, made his Red Sox debut and gave up a three-run homer to the first batter he faced. Abad (1-5) was added to the roster after Monday night's win.
"He's one of the toughest lefty relievers in the game right now, a guy who's got me a lot of times," Cano said. "I was just trying to put the ball in play."
Four of Seattle's five runs in the inning were charged to Price, who allowed seven hits over seven-plus innings and did not factor into the decision.
Price took a line drive off his lower thigh, just above his left knee, to lead off the sixth inning. Farrell said that had nothing to do with the way the eighth inning went.
"We continued to check him between innings, and it was strong," Farrell said. "I can't say that eighth inning was a result of him being struck by the ball."
Mike Zunino led off the eighth with a home run for Seattle's first run. Guillermo Heredia added an RBI single, his first major league hit, as Boston's lead shrunk to 4-2 before Cano's 24th home run of the season completed the comeback.
Mariners rookie reliever Edwin Diaz, promoted to the closer's job after veteran Steve Cishek struggled in back-to-back games Sunday and Monday, made the most of his first opportunity. He struck out three of the four batters he faced in a scoreless ninth to earn his first career save.
"It's the same thing (as being a setup man)," Diaz said. "Just a little bit more pressure, but it's the same thing (as pitching in) the seventh and eighth. Nothing different."
Donn Roach (2-0) earned the win after giving up one run on one hit in two innings.
Mariners starter Wade LeBlanc allowed three runs on five hits over six innings and left the game with Seattle trailing 3-0.
Boston veteran David Ortiz went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. He gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the first inning and added a sacrifice fly in the eighth, putting Boston ahead 4-0.
Ramirez had two hits for the Red Sox. His 454-foot solo homer in the fourth gave Boston a 2-0 lead. However, his night ended in a question mark when he slipped on the dugout steps and ended up being taken for X-rays.
"It's just a precautionary thing to see what's going on there," Farrell said.
Boston prospect Andrew Benintendi made his major league debut as a pinch hitter and wound up going 0-for-2. He struck out on a 99 mph Diaz fastball to end the game.
Ramirez's 14th home run of the season helped the Red Sox build a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. Ramirez crushed a 1-1 pitch from LeBlanc 454 feet into the stands in left-center field for a solo shot. Aaron Hill added an RBI single in the two-run fourth.
Ortiz, who has done plenty of damage at Safeco Field over the years, collected his 42nd career RBI at the stadium with a first-inning double. Ortiz's two-out hit brought in Dustin Pedroia from first base, giving the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.
NOTES: Boston designated LHP Tommy Layne for assignment after Monday's game, clearing a roster spot for LHP Fernando Abad. ... Red Sox OF Andrew Benintendi was in uniform but not in the lineup Tuesday. The left-hand-hitting Benintendi, who was promoted from Triple-A after Monday's game, will not be in the starting lineup until Wednesday, when Seattle starts a right-handed pitcher in Hisashi Iwakuma. ... Seattle announced rookie RHP Edwin Diaz, who has a 100 mph fastball, will take over closing duties for now while veteran Steve Cishek works through his struggles. The Mariners still have yet to name a starter for Thursday. It could be LHP Ariel Miranda, who was acquired from Baltimore Sunday for LHP Wade Miley. Seattle RHP Taijuan Walker (sore foot) made a successful rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma on Monday and could be close to being activated.
