GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: BOSTON (66-43) at SEATTLE (60-47)

AL: BOSTON at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (4) AT SEATTLE (3) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SEATTLE 2ND: R Ibanez struck out swinging. A Beltre homered to center.
B Broussard flied out to right. K Johjima grounded out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BOSTON 0, SEATTLE 1.

BOSTON 4TH: K Youkilis flied out to center. D Ortiz singled to left,
D Ortiz to second on error by left fielder R Ibanez. M Ramirez walked. M Lowell
popped out to shortstop. J Varitek doubled to deep left, D Ortiz and M Ramirez
scored. J Drew struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) BOSTON 2,
SEATTLE 1.

BOSTON 6TH: K Youkilis doubled to deep center. D Ortiz singled to right
center, K Youkilis scored, D Ortiz to third on throwing error by right fielder
J Guillen. M Ramirez doubled to deep center, D Ortiz scored. M Lowell fouled
out to left. J Varitek flied out to center. J Drew singled to right,
M Ramirez to third. C Crisp grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Drew
out at second. (2 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error) BOSTON 4, SEATTLE 1.

SEATTLE 7TH: Y Betancourt homered to left. I Suzuki grounded out to
shortstop. J Vidro struck out swinging. J Guillen struck out looking. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, SEATTLE 2.

SEATTLE 8TH: E Gagne relieved D Matsuzaka. R Ibanez struck out looking.
A Beltre flied out to left. B Broussard singled to center. B Broussard stole
second. K Johjima singled to deep left, B Broussard scored. W Bloomquist ran
for K Johjima. J Lopez doubled to left, W Bloomquist to third. Y Betancourt
grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, SEATTLE 3.</div>

 

Matsuzaka wins 13th against Mariners

<h3>BOSTON 4, SEATTLE 3</h3>By Paul Lowenberg
PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer


SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jason Varitek helpedthe Boston Red Sox finally defeat the Seattle Mariners at SafecoField.


Matsuzaka pitched seven effective innings and Varitek doubled intwo runs as the Red Sox snapped a nine-game losing streak inSeattle with a 4-3 victory over the Mariners on Saturday.

Matsuzaka (13-8) became the first Red Sox rookie to win 13 gamessince Don Schwall in 1961 as he tied a career high with 10strikeouts. The Japanese righthander allowed just two runs andsix hits with two walks.


It was the third time this season Matsuzaka struck out 10batters and first since April 17 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Eric Gagne surrendered a run and three hits in the eighthinning, but Jonathan Papelbon worked around a pair of two-outwalks in the ninth to register his 25th save of the season.

Varitek provided the Red Sox with a 2-1 advantage in the fourthinning, when his double to left field off Mariners starterJarrod Washburn (8-8) plated David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.

The loss deprived the Mariners of a chance to move within onegame of the American League West Division-leading Los AngelesAngels of Anaheim, who suffered a 2-1 setback to the OaklandAthletics. They also remain one-half game back of the DetroitTigers in the wild card race.


Boston, which had not won at Seattle since July 22, 2006,maintained its seven-game advantage in the AL East over the NewYork Yankees.


The Red Sox scored a pair of runs in the sixth with the help ofa throwing error by right fielder Jose Guillen.


Kevin Youkilis hit a leadoff double and Ortiz singled to right.Guillen's throw to third wound up in the stands, allowingYoukilis to score and Ortiz to take second.


Ramirez followed with an RBI double to center, increasingBoston's advantage to 4-1.


Washburn lasted 6 1/3 innings, giving up four runs and eighthits with two walks and four strikeouts. The lefthanderremained winless in his last five starts.


Adrian Beltre's 17th blast of the season in the second inninggave the Mariners an early 1-0 lead. Yuniesky Betancourt ledoff the seventh with his second homer in as many games, trimmingBoston's lead to 4-2.


The Mariners squandereded several opportunities to put runs onthe board against the 26-year-old Matsuzaka.


Seattle loaded the bases with one out in the third but could notscore as Matsuzaka struck out Guillen on three pitches and gotRaul Ibanez on a flyout to end the inning.


The Mariners had runners on the corners with one out in thefourth, but Jose Lopez grounded into double play to end thethreat.


Matsuzaka got into trouble again in the sixth, when he hitleadoff batter Ibanez and walked Beltre. But Ben Broussardstruck out and Kenji Johjima popped out before Lopez fanned onthree pitches.

 

AL: BOSTON at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOSTON (4) AT SEATTLE (3) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Boston Starting Lineups -- D Pedroia 2B, K Youkilis 1B, D Ortiz DH, M Ramirez LF,
M Lowell 3B, J Varitek C, J Drew RF, C Crisp CF, J Lugo SS, D Matsuzaka RHP.

Seattle Starting Lineups -- I Suzuki CF, J Vidro DH, J Guillen RF, R Ibanez LF,
A Beltre 3B, B Broussard 1B, K Johjima C, J Lopez 2B, Y Betancourt SS,
J Washburn LHP.

Umpires -- Mike Everitt (HP), Gerry Davis (1B), Alfonso Marquez (2B),
Chris Guccione (3B).

Gametime Weather: 73 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind in from center at 2 mph.


BOSTON 1ST: D Pedroia fouled out to third. K Youkilis singled to center.
D Ortiz struck out swinging. M Ramirez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BOSTON 0, SEATTLE 0.

SEATTLE 1ST: I Suzuki grounded out to second. J Vidro struck out swinging.
J Guillen struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, SEATTLE 0.

BOSTON 2ND: M Lowell popped out to second. J Varitek flied out to right.
J Drew grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, SEATTLE 0.

SEATTLE 2ND: R Ibanez struck out swinging. A Beltre homered to center.
B Broussard flied out to right. K Johjima grounded out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) BOSTON 0, SEATTLE 1.

BOSTON 3RD: C Crisp grounded out to third. J Lugo reached on infield
single to second. D Pedroia grounded into double play, shortstop to second to
first, J Lugo out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, SEATTLE 1.

SEATTLE 3RD: J Lopez hit by pitch. Y Betancourt singled to right, J Lopez
to second. I Suzuki grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Lopez out
at third, Y Betancourt to second. J Vidro reached on infield single to first,
Y Betancourt to third, I Suzuki to second. J Guillen struck out swinging.
R Ibanez flied out to left. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, SEATTLE 1.

BOSTON 4TH: K Youkilis flied out to center. D Ortiz singled to left,
D Ortiz to second on error by left fielder R Ibanez. M Ramirez walked. M Lowell
popped out to shortstop. J Varitek doubled to deep left, D Ortiz and M Ramirez
scored. J Drew struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) BOSTON 2,
SEATTLE 1.

SEATTLE 4TH: A Beltre flied out to left. B Broussard doubled to deep left.
K Johjima reached on infield single to shortstop, B Broussard to third.
J Lopez grounded into double play, third to second to first, K Johjima out at
second.(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, SEATTLE 1.

BOSTON 5TH: C Crisp flied out to center. J Lugo popped out to first.
D Pedroia flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 2, SEATTLE 1.

SEATTLE 5TH: Y Betancourt struck out looking. I Suzuki grounded out to
pitcher. J Vidro walked. J Guillen struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) BOSTON 2, SEATTLE 1.

BOSTON 6TH: K Youkilis doubled to deep center. D Ortiz singled to right
center, K Youkilis scored, D Ortiz to third on throwing error by right fielder
J Guillen. M Ramirez doubled to deep center, D Ortiz scored. M Lowell fouled
out to left. J Varitek flied out to center. J Drew singled to right,
M Ramirez to third. C Crisp grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Drew
out at second. (2 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error) BOSTON 4, SEATTLE 1.

SEATTLE 6TH: R Ibanez hit by pitch. A Beltre walked, R Ibanez to second.
B Broussard struck out swinging. K Johjima popped out to shortstop. J Lopez
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, SEATTLE 1.

BOSTON 7TH: J Lugo struck out swinging. D Pedroia walked. R Rowland-Smith
relieved J Washburn. K Youkilis struck out looking. D Ortiz struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, SEATTLE 1.

SEATTLE 7TH: Y Betancourt homered to left. I Suzuki grounded out to
shortstop. J Vidro struck out swinging. J Guillen struck out looking. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, SEATTLE 2.

BOSTON 8TH: M Ramirez grounded out to shortstop. M Lowell doubled to deep
left. J Varitek struck out looking. J Drew struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, SEATTLE 2.

SEATTLE 8TH: E Gagne relieved D Matsuzaka. R Ibanez struck out looking.
A Beltre flied out to left. B Broussard singled to center. B Broussard stole
second. K Johjima singled to deep left, B Broussard scored. W Bloomquist ran
for K Johjima. J Lopez doubled to left, W Bloomquist to third. Y Betancourt
grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, SEATTLE 3.

BOSTON 9TH: J Burke catching. B Morrow relieved R Rowland-Smith. C Crisp
struck out swinging. J Lugo doubled to left. D Pedroia flied out to right.
K Youkilis struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, SEATTLE 3.

SEATTLE 9TH: J Papelbon relieved E Gagne. I Suzuki struck out swinging.
J Vidro struck out swinging. J Guillen walked. A Jones ran for J Guillen.
A Jones stole second. R Ibanez walked. A Beltre fouled out to catcher. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 4, SEATTLE 3.</div>

 

Matsuzaka wins 13th against Mariners

<h3>BOSTON 4, SEATTLE 3</h3>By Paul Lowenberg
PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer


SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jason Varitek helpedthe Boston Red Sox finally defeat the Seattle Mariners at SafecoField.


Matsuzaka pitched seven effective innings and Varitek doubled intwo runs as the Red Sox snapped a nine-game losing streak inSeattle with a 4-3 victory over the Mariners on Saturday.

Matsuzaka (13-8) became the first Red Sox rookie to win 13 gamessince Don Schwall in 1961 as he tied a career high with 10strikeouts. The Japanese righthander allowed just two runs andsix hits with two walks.


"He was good," Varitek said of Matsuzaka. "He was able toutilize his other stuff and he threw some really good changeupstonight and that was very nice to see."


It was the third time this season Matsuzaka struck out 10batters and first since April 17 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

"Despite letting runners on base I was able to battle throughand prevent some runs from scoring," Matsuzaka said.

Mariners manager John McLaren heaped praise on Matsuzaka.

"Matsuzuka has the ability to raise his game when he has to,"McLaren said. He was something special. He made some pitchesand pitched out of a couple of jams. He showed me somethingtonight. You don't have a lot of pitchers that have thatability. Randy (Johnson) did and (Roger) Clemens did. I'mreally impressed with this guy."


Eric Gagne surrendered a run and three hits in the eighthinning, but Jonathan Papelbon worked around a pair of two-outwalks in the ninth to register his 25th save of the season.

Varitek provided the Red Sox with a 2-1 advantage in the fourthinning, when his double to left field off Mariners starterJarrod Washburn (8-8) plated David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.

The loss deprived the Mariners of a chance to move within 1 1/2games of the American League West Division-leading Los AngelesAngels of Anaheim, who suffered a 2-1 setback to the OaklandAthletics. They also remain one-half game back of the DetroitTigers in the wild card race.


Boston, which had not won at Seattle since July 22, 2006,maintained its seven-game advantage in the AL East over the NewYork Yankees.


The Red Sox scored a pair of runs in the sixth with the help ofa throwing error by right fielder Jose Guillen.


Kevin Youkilis hit a leadoff double and Ortiz singled to right.Guillen's throw to third wound up in the stands, allowingYoukilis to score and Ortiz to take second.


Ramirez followed with an RBI double to center, increasingBoston's advantage to 4-1.


Washburn lasted 6 1/3 innings, giving up four runs and eighthits with two walks and four strikeouts. The lefthanderremained winless in his last five starts.


"This is how we've been all season long," Washburn said."There's no quit in this clubhouse and our ballclub keepsfighting until the last out is made. We never think we're outof a game. Good ballclubs do that."


Adrian Beltre's 17th blast of the season in the second inninggave the Mariners an early 1-0 lead. Yuniesky Betancourt ledoff the seventh with his second homer in as many games, trimmingBoston's lead to 4-2.


The Mariners squandered several opportunities to put runs on theboard against the 26-year-old Matsuzaka.


Seattle loaded the bases with one out in the third but could notscore as Matsuzaka struck out Guillen on three pitches and gotRaul Ibanez on a flyout to end the inning.


The Mariners had runners on the corners with one out in thefourth, but Jose Lopez grounded into a double play to end thethreat.


Matsuzaka got into trouble again in the sixth, when he hitleadoff batter Ibanez and walked Beltre. But Ben Broussardstruck out and Kenji Johjima popped out before Lopez fanned onthree pitches.