Sox Take Game 1 of Doubleheader over Mariners (8/25/10)

In the critical day night double-header against the Seattle Mariners, the Sox took care of business in game 1.

Josh Beckett (4-3, 6.50 ERA) and his counterpart David Pauley (2-5, 4.02 ERA) shook off the elements for the first 5 innings to post dueling shut outs.

Pauley looked to have dominated early, not allowing a single baserunner before Marco Scutaro doubled in the bottom of the third inning. Pauley kept the Sox off balance, allowing a single and a walk in the 5th but working around it to retire the side without a run.

Beckett was equally tough, allowing a leadoff hit to Ichiro which was quickly erased on a double play. Beckett then dominated setting down the next 15 straight batters, working around a walk to Josh Wilson to set the Mariners down in the top of the 6th inning.

Then the Red Sox offense finally broke through in the bottom of the 6th. Marco Scutaro led off with a single but JD Drew lined out to left field. Victor Martinez singled and David Ortiz walked to load the bases for Adrian Beltre. Beltre continued his clutch hitting in a Sox uniform by hitting a ball off Pauley, scoring Scutaro and re-loading the bases. Mike Lowell then hit a sac fly which scored Martinez to increase the score 2-0. Daniel Nava stepped in and hit a shot to Ichiro which scored Ortiz and Beltre, chasing Pauley from the game just like that. Jamey Wright came in and struck out Bill Hall to end the inning but the Sox now had a 4-0 lead.

Then it was time for Dice K Disease to strike Josh Beckett. After allowing 2 base-runners all game, he fell apart in the 7th. It started off well as he struck out Chone Figgins but Russel Branyan connected for his 20th homer of the year. Jose Lopez singled and then Casey Kotchman homered to chase Beckett just like that. Daniel Bard came on and shut the door, but a sure 4-0 lead was now a 4-3 nail biter.

In the top of the 8th, Bard walked Ryan Langerhans to open the inning but got Josh Wilson to pop up on a bunt attempt. Ichiro grounded out which moved Langerhans to second then Bard hit Chone Figgins. With the winning run on base Branyan hit a rocket to right field but JD Drew was there to snare the line drive and preserve the lead.

In the bottom of the 8th, the Sox got some much needed insurance when Beltre and Lowell walked with 2 outs. Darnell McDonald (pinch-hitting for Nava) worked a base hit past the third basemen which scored Beltre, but Lowell was gunned down at third trying to advance. With the score 5-3, it was on to the 9th inning where Jon Papelbon replaced Bard. Jon then made an ESPN WebGem worthy snare of a rocket by Jose Lopez to begin the 9th. Casey Kotchman put on a heck of an at-bat but grounded out to Beltre after 13 pitches. Franklin Guiterrez also grounded out to end the game and pick up Papelbon's 32nd save of the season.

It was a big win to take the first game, however the Sox had used Bard and Papelbon which could make them unavailable for the nightcap. The nightcap has a great pitching matchup as "King" Felix Hernandez (9-10, 2.51 ERA) goes against Jon Lester (13-8, 3.26 ERA) who looks to bounce back from the beating he received at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays.