As for the game, don't look now but the Boston Red Sox have won two in a row. They did it with clutch hits and timely pitching. Connelly Early (6-5, 3.64 ERA) bounced back from his recent struggles to shut down the Seattle Mariners. He hit 3 batters and walked two, but allowed just two hits and a run in six solid innings. After allowing a run in the first, the Sox took the lead on a 2 run home run by Wilyer Abreu in the fourth. Then the Sox rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth highlighted by clutch hits from the resurging Caleb Durbin and the much maligned Marcelo Mayer. A trio of relievers with Danny Coulombe being the final one slammed the door as the Sox took this one 6-1 at T-Mobile Park.
Hancock got the ball in the top of the first inning and Anthony Seigler took strike three right down the middle to start. Masataka Yoshida flied out to right and Wilyer Abreu grounded out to second to end the inning. The Mariners got to Early in the bottom of the first as JP Crawford walked to start. Raleigh singled to left and Julio Rodriguez beat out a double play ball. Josh Naylor got a base hit to center to score Crawford, putting the Mariners up. Rodriguez was thrown out at third trying to steal and Rob Refsnyder grounded out to short to end the inning with the Mariners up 1-0.
As usual the Sox failed to respond in the top of the second as Willson Contreras flied out to center to start. Jarren Duran lined out to third and Caleb Durbin popped up to first to end the inning. Cole Young was plunked to start the bottom of the second and Mitch Garver took strike three. Connor Joe grounded into a double play. Colt Emerson struck out swinging to end the inning.
Marcelo Mayer took strike three to open the top of the third and Carlos Narvaez watched strike three go by. Nate Eaton struck out swinging to end the inning. Crawford flied out to left to start the bottom of the third and Raleigh walked. Rodriguez flied out to right and Naylor forced Raleigh at second to end the inning.
The Sox rallied in the top of the fourth as Seigler got a base hit to left to start. Yoshida took strike three right down the middle but Abreu blasted his ninth home run of the year to put the Sox on top. Contreras struck out swinging and Duran grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Sox up 2-1.
Refsnyder grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fourth and Young struck out swinging. Garver also went down hacking to end the inning.
Durbin got a base hit to left to start the top of the fifth but naturally Mayer grounded into a double play. Joe dropped a routine pop up by Narvaez for an error to put Carlos at second but Eaton popped up to first to end the inning. Joe struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fifth and Emerson did the same. Crawford flied out to center to end the inning.
Seigler grounded out to second to start the top of the sixth but Yoshida got a base hit to right. Yoshida stole second and Abreu walked before a wild pitch moved both runners over. Contreras walked to load the bases and chase Hancock from the game. Jose Ferrer came in to pitch and naturally Duran forced Yoshida at home. Somehow Ferrer bounced a wild pitch that scored Abreu to increase the lead. Durbin then beat out a roller to short to score Contreras and Mayer beat out a roller to second to score Duran. Durbin stole third but kept going and was thrown out at home to end the inning with the Sox up 5-1.
Raleigh grounded out to short to start the bottom of the sixth but Rodriguez was plunked. Naylor struck out swinging but Rodriguez stole second. Refsnyder was also hit with a pitch but Young flied out to center to end the inning. That was it for Early who allowed just 1 run in 6 innings off 2 hits, 2 walks and 3 hit batsmen.
Nick Davila came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Narvaez walked to start. Eaton walked but Sox manager Chad Tracy refused to bunt, allowing Seigler to strike out swinging. Yoshida beat out a double play ball to put runners at the corners but Abreu flied out to center to end the inning. Tyron Guerrero came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Andruw Monasterio came in for Seigler. Luke Railey pinch hit for Garver and struck out swinging. Dominic Canzone pinch hit for Joe and lined out to second. Emerson struck out swinging to end the inning.
Michael Rucker came in to pitch the top of the eighth and he hit Contreras to start. Duran struck out swinging and Durbin forced Contreras at second. Durbin swiped second but Mayer struck out swinging to end the inning. Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Crawford popped up to short to start. Raleigh struck out swinging and Rodriguez lined out to right to end the inning.
Former Sox prospect Alex Hoppe came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Narvaez struck out swinging to start. Eaton struck out swinging and Monasterio lined out to right to end the inning.
Danny Coulombe came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and Naylor grounded out to second to start. Refsnyder lined out to center and Young popped up to short to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-1.
Hero of The Night is Connelly Early. He held the Mariners to just 1 run in 6 innings to get the win.
The Good:
Wilyer Abreu was 1 for 3 with a walk, 2 run homer and 2 total runs scored.
Willson Contreras walked, was hit with a pitch and scored a run.
Caleb Durbin was 2 for 4 with an rbi and 2 stolen bases.
Tyron Guerrero pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Garrett Whitlock pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Danny Coulombe pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Andruw Monasterio was 0 for 1 at the plate.
The Ugly:
Anthony Seigler was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts and an error but scored a run.
Masataka Yoshida was just 1 for 4 but stole a base.
Jarren Duran was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Marcelo Mayer was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but drove in a run.
Carlos Narvaez was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked.
Nate Eaton was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked.
Final Thoughts:
Some day there will be a book written about the 2026 Red Sox season where they explain how the Sox are a completely different team on the road than at home. The pitching is good wherever they go but the offense has come alive in the last two games. Not just driving in runs but driving in runs with 2 outs and/or runners in scoring position. Both Durbin and Mayer both came through in the clutch and most fans thought the game was over when they were down 1-0. Abreu's two run shot and Early's strong start turned the tide in this one and the rest of the team pitched in. If word comes out that Craig Breslow has something to do with the Sox being terrible at home, he can't be fired fast enough. Fans are already talking about trading everyone in sight and the 35 year old Guerrero pumping in 101 on the black will turn some heads for sure. Still, if certain guys get healthy and certain guys stay hot, the season isn't over yet. A nice win streak would help. The win improved the Sox to 31-43, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox look to sweep the Mariners out of Seattle tomorrow afternoon when Peyton Tolle (3-4, 2.93 ERA) takes on Mariners ace Logan Gilbert. The game begins at 4:05 PM eastern time at T-Mobile Park.
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