r11; When shortstop Xander Bogaerts is cranking out home runs Tuukka Rask Jersey , and crawling around to save runs, the Boston Red Sox know they are in good hands.
Bogaerts hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning, and the Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Thursday night for their fourth consecutive victory.
David Price (8-4) pitched seven inning of four-hit ball to earn his sixth victory over his past seven appearances. He gave up a run and struck out seven. Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth to lock down his 22nd save, pitching around two inning-opening walks by striking out Kyle Seager and getting Ryon Healy to ground into a double play.
It was Bostonr17;s major-league leading 48th win of the season, and snapped Seattler17;s four-game winning streak.
r1;That was a pretty cool game, 2-1,r1; Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. r1;That is a good team over there.r1;
Bogaerts certainly had a crucial impact. He homered with two outs in the sixth, hitting a 2-2 fastball from Felix Hernandez over the left-center field wall to give Boston a 2-1 lead. It was Bogaertsr17; 10th home run of the season, matching his total from 2017.
It was an at-bat that certainly impressed his manager, given that Bogaerts had struck out against Hernandez in his first two at-bats.
r1;It seemed like he had no chance, honestly,r1; Cora said. r1;He was swinging and missing. I think it was tough for him to see that ball when (Hernandez) was throwing the changeup.
r1;But he spread out and was trying to make contact. r30; And he gets a fastball, was short to it and he drilled it.r1;
Price was fantastic in outdueling Hernandez, who gave up both runs in seven innings, striking out six.
And after a slow first month, he has taken off. The zip has returned on his fastball, too, reaching 96 mph on Thursday.
r1;Velocity-wise, yeah (it was my best outing),r1; Price said. r1;Command (wise), it was there, and then it wasnr17;t r11; and then it was there again. Whenever I really needed to make pitches tonight, I did.r1;
Price got a key out in the sixth inning in Seattler17;s Jean Segura, the ALr17;s second-leading hitter at .347. The 11-pitch at-bat ended when Segura grounded a ball up the middle, but right to Bogaerts, who took it from his knees and crawled over to touch second base before throwing over to complete a double play.
r1;They made (big plays) tonight, and we didnr17;t,r1; Mariners manager Scott Servais said. r1;We had to somehow come up with a big hit and we just didnr17;t get it.r1;
The Mariners tied it at 1-all in the bottom of the fifth on Guillermo Herediar17;s sacrifice fly to left field. Boston grabbed a 1-0 lead on Jackie Bradley Jr.r17;s RBI double off Hernandez (6-6) in the second.
MARINERS PROSPECT FINISHES COMEBACK
Nearly a year ago, Seattle right-handed pitcher Rob Whalen walked away from baseball.
After a July 5 start for Triple-A Tacoma, Whalen left the team, citing issues with depression. Placed on the teamr17;s restricted list, he didnr17;t return the rest of the season.
However, after rediscovering joy in life, which included his passion for baseball, Whalen nearly made the big-league ballclub out of spring training.
r1;I just wanted to come in and have fun, enjoy life and what I get to do for a living,r1; Whalen said.
It showed his minor-league numbers. Whalen was 7-3 with a 4.50 ERA pitching for Tacoma, and was promoted Thursday by the Mariners to pitch in long relief.
BRADLEY SHOWING SIGNS
Bostonr17;s Jackie Bradley Jr. came into the game in an 0-for-15 slump over his last four games, and just 1 for 23 over the previous week.
Cora said no hitter in the final two games at Baltimore hit the baseball harder than Bradley. He just did not have a hit to show for it. He did drive in the gamer17;s first run Thursday with a sharp double to right field.
r1;We do feel now he is in a great spot,r1; Cora said.
TRAINERr17;S ROOM
Red Sox: 2B Dustin Pedroia (left knee inflammation) is still not doing any baseball activity Sam Hubbard Jersey , although he did work out in the visiting clubhouse gym Thursday. r30; LHP Drew Pomeranz (left biceps tendinitis) played catch and is feeling better, Cora said. r30; RHP Tyler Thornburg (right shoulder) was scheduled to make a start Thursday for Triple-A Pawtucket as he makes his way back from thoracic outlet surgery.
Mariners: RHP Nick Vincent (strained right groin) continues to play catch every day, as he did before the game Thursday. It is uncertain when he will get back on the mound for a bullpen session. Servais said he is hopeful Vincent and RHP Juan Nicasio (right knee) will be able to return from the 10-day disabled list early in the teamr17;s upcoming road trip, starting Tuesday in New York.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: RHP Rick Porcello (8-3, 3.54 ERA), the 2016 AL Cy Young Award winner, has gone six innings and given up two earned runs in each of his past three starts (two wins). This will be his 13th career start against the Mariners, and he is 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA at Safeco Field.
Mariners: LHP James Paxton (6-1, 3.02 ERA) is 5-0 with a 1.87 ERA since early May. Paxton is 2-0 with a 0.39 ERA against Boston, having given up just one earned run in 23 innings. He beat the Red Sox last July with seven scoreless innings.
r12;
KANSAS CITY, Mo. r12; It wasnr17;t Friday the 13th, but it was a nightmare nonetheless for Danny Duffy.
On May 13, the Kansas City Royals 29-year-old left-hander took the mound at Progressive Field in Cleveland. After 87 pitches in 3 1/3 innings, Duffy was finished.
r0;What do I remember from the last one?r1; Duffy said. r0;I try to forget it. It was probably the worst start Ir17;ve had in a long timfe.r1;
To say it was bad would be an understatement. Duffy gave up nine runs, eight hits and five walks and hit a batter. He yielded a three-run homer to Jose Ramirez in the second inning.
Manager Ned Yost mercifully replaced him in the third when Yan Gomes belted Duffyr17;s final pitch over the center-field fence with two runners on base.
Duffy gets a chance for a reprieve on Tuesday when he faces the Indians in the second game of the three-game series.
r0;Ir17;m looking forward to getting out there,r1; he said. r0;Itr17;s another challenge and Ir17;m up for it. Ir17;m going to do everything I can to execute every pitch and stay within my strengths.r1;
Duffy has not fared well against the Indians in his career. He is 2-8 with a 5.06 ERA, surrendering 39 earned runs in 69 1/3 inning in 17 career outings, 13 of them starts.
This season, he is 4-7 with a 4.94 ERA in 17 starts, allowing 95 hits, walking 46 and hitting two batters in 94 2/3 innings.
Opponents are batting .259 against Duffy. That breaks down to .264 by right-handed batters and .233 by left-handed batters. Lefties have hit .188 against Duffy since 2016.
Duffy has pitched better recently. He began the year 1-6 with a 6.88 ERA in his first 10 starts, giving up 39 earned runs in 51 innings. He is 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA in his past seven starts, allowing 13 earned runs across 43 2/3 innings.
In his last start, Duffy picked up a 5-4 decision over the Milwaukee Brewers on the road. He permitted one run, five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in six innings. He stranded two runners in the first and third inning. Jesus Aguilarr17;s home run in the sixth was the only run Duffy allowed.
Duffy will be looking for his first Kauffman Stadium victory this season. He is 0-3 with a 6.32 ERA in six home starts. His last home victory was Aug. 22, 2017.
The Indians, who won the series opener 9-3 with Francisco Lindor driving in a career-high seven runs, will counter with rookie right-hander Shane Bieber, who is 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in his first four career starts.
r0;I just want to go out there and continue what Ir17;ve been doing so far,r1; Bieber said. r0;Thatr17;s just throwing three or four pitches for strikes and getting ahead, and trying to put guys away when I can.
r0;Really, itr17;s just a matter of trusting (catchers) Yan (Gomes) or Berto (Roberto Perez). They always know exactly what theyr17;re doing, in case I donr17;t. They make up for my lack of experience.r1;
Bieber has plus breaking pitches.
r0;Right now, Ir17;m relying on the slider and curveball,r1; he said. r0;Ir17;ll use the fastball if theyr17;re sitting on those two. I feel comfortable throwing those three especially. My change-up is a work in progress. All my pitches are a work in progress, obviously, but that one especially.
r0;Keeping them off balance with all three or four pitches is the best thing. If I can do that, things will be a little bit easier. Thatr17;s the goal for every starting pitcher.r1;
