Marco Scutaro had a pair of 2 RBI singles and the Red Sox beat the Mariners 6-3 in the first of a three game series at Fenway Park. The two teams managed to squeeze the game in through the damp New England weather. John Lackey threw 112 pitches over eight innings for the win. Jonathan Papelbon picked up the save.
J.D Drew and Victor Martinez also had runs batted in for Boston in the win. Initially, the Sox offense had struggled against Seattle starter Doug Fister who came in with a losing record but a sub-4.00 earned run average. The Red Sox managed to cut through thanks to a crucial mistake by Mariners leftfielder Ryan Langerhans.
While tracking down a Jed Lowrie flyball, Langerhans took his eye off the ball and had it deflect off his glove and bounce into the stands. Instead of having a runner on first with two outs, Fister was put into an instant jam with two runners in scoring position and only one out. After a Daniel Nava walk and a Ryan Kalish popup, Scutaro delivered two runs with a single through the right side.
As it stands Boston is 5-2 with two games left on the homestand, both against the Mariners. The Sox continue to insist that there is still time left to make up the ground between them and either the Yankees or the Rays. However, as each day goes by with no movement, the picture looks bleaker.
Damon Back in Boston?
The depleted outfield has been a constant throughout the season for the Red Sox. They made a move to possibly address that situation for the last month by putting in a waiver claim on Tigers outfielder Johnny Damon. The speedy lefty departed the Sox on bad terms after opting for the rival Yankees over the Sox in the offseason after 2006.
In order to return to Boston, Damon would have to waive his no-trade clause sometime within the next 48 hours, allowing the two teams to work out a deal. Damon has not given any indication one way or another about his feelings on returning to the Red Sox.
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