BBOSTON — Rick Porcello wriggled out of a couple early jams, and Boston’s deep lineup took over from there.
Porcello pitched six solid innings, Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr. homered and the Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 6-2 on Saturday.
Porcello allowed singles to each of his first three batters, but limited the Mariners to just one run in the first on Nelson Cruz’s double-play grounder. He retired three straight with runners on second and third in the third.
“The first inning and the third inning – back up against the wall and tested,” Porcello said. “The double play ball to Cruz; I needed it and wanted it there.”
Porcello (8-2) improved to 6-0 at home this year. He allowed two runs and eight hits, struck out six and walked none.
Making his major league debut for Seattle, Adrian Sampson was off to a great start before Bradley’s two-out drive in the fourth reached the second row of seats above the Green Monster, trimming Seattle’s lead to 2-1.
The Red Sox then chased the right-hander while scoring three runs in the fifth.
“Overall when you get familiar with somebody you make adjustments,” Bradley said. “We were able to make adjustments.”
Sampson (0-1) allowed eight hits and walked one in 42/3 innings. He felt like Boston’s hitters learned his pitches quickly.
“Once I started throwing more strikes they kind of realized I (have) to throw it over the plate somewhere,” he said. “So they got a little more aggressive and my misses were just a little off.”
Seattle Manager Scott Servais said the third inning was key. With Leonys Martin on third and Seth Smith on second, Porcello struck out Robinson Cano and Cruz before Kyle Seager grounded out to second.
“You got to give credit to Porcello,” Servais said. “He had some pitches and he elevated some fastballs, got it by our guys in spots he needed to do it.”
Bogaerts, who entered the day leading the American League in batting, also had a single while raising his average to .352. Christian Vazquez and Mookie Betts each had two hits and an RBI for the Red Sox.
Adam Lind homered for the Mariners, and Smith went 3 for 3 with a double and two singles.
Boston had lost four of five and was just 5-9 in June.
In the fifth, Boston got three straight singles on five pitches, tying it on Betts’ single. Vazquez scored the go-ahead run on a double-play grounder before Bogaerts’ homer barely cleared the Monster.
Vazquez’s RBI double made it 5-2 in the sixth.
Lind homered to center field leading off the second.
NOTES
The Red Sox promoted infielder Deven Marrero and outfielder Ryan LaMarre from the minors. Outfielder Rusney Castillo and Friday’s starter and losing pitcher Roenis Elias were optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket.
Manager John Farrell said right-hander Clay Buchholz will return to the rotation and pitch Tuesday. Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez’s next start was pushed back to Wednesday, giving Rodriguez an extra bullpen session to work on his delivery and overcome what some believe is tipping his pitches.
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