Mariners Squeak By Red Sox Again

By KC Downey in Red Sox ⋅ July 5, 2009 at 11:52am ⋅ Post a comment

All across New England on Saturday, families were flipping burgers, grilling hot dogs, and preparing to watch the fireworks in person or on television later that night. They were first treated to a Red Sox game, hoping for some fireworks on the baseball diamond. All they got was a pitiful offensive effort in a 3-2 loss to the Mariners.

Brad Penny allowed two runs on six hits in six innings pitched, but received the no-decision. The Sox bullpen was pretty good, allowing just one run in three innings, but the woeful offense left little room for error. Takashi Saito loaded the bases with three walks in the ninth inning, and allowed a bloop single that gave the Mariners the 3-2 lead, which former Sox hurler David Aardsma held onto for the save in the M’s win.

Sox Stud of the Game

Jason Varitek, C: Varitek finished 2-3 with a two-run HR and a walk, basically providing all of the offense for the good guys.

Sox Dud of the Game

Sox batters not named Varitek: These players combined to go 2-27 with three walks and seven strikeouts. Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury were the only other players with hits (each player went 1-4).

That’s What He Said

“This year I’ve been throwing a lot of strikes,” said Aardsma, who struggled with the Red Sox last season. “Last year if I threw ball one it would have been like, ‘Oh, here I go again.’ This year it’s not a big deal.”

Game Notes

W: Roy Corcoran (2-0)
L: Takashi Saito (2-2)
S: David Aardsma (17)

David Ortiz did not start against the lefty Olson, but pinch hit for DH Rocco Baldelli later in the game.
The Mariners have never swept a three-game series at Fenway in their team’s history, but have a chance to do it Sunday.
Boston’s back-to-back losses to the M’s this series, and it is just the second time that happened since the beginning of June.