SEATTLE (AP) — Felix Hernandez threw seven strong innings to win for the first time since June 2, Logan Morrison hit two long homers, and the Seattle Mariners used a six-run fourth inning to rout the Boston Red Sox 12-3 on Monday night.
Seattle won its fourth straight after a weekend sweep in Kansas City. The Mariners finally provided Hernandez (9-2) the run support lacking in his last three starts and battered right-hander John Lackey (8-5) in his shortest outing since September 2011.
Seattle had scored one run total while Hernandez was on the mound in his previous three starts. After falling behind early, Seattle blew the game open in the fourth, capped by Endy Chavez’s bases-loaded triple off Lackey. Seattle sent 10 batters to the plate and scored three times with two outs.
Hernandez set a club record with his eighth straight start pitching at least seven innings and allowing two earned runs or less. He struck out six, walked none and efficiently handed the Red Sox their fourth loss in five games. Hernandez’s only miscues were David Ortiz’s RBI single in the first and Mike Napoli’s solo homer in the fourth.
Morrison had the first multihomer game of his career. His solo shot in the second inning off Lackey pulled Seattle even and he added to the offensive outburst with a two-run homer in the seventh, a 421-foot drive to center field off reliever Chris Capuano. Morrison finished with four hits for the third time in his career.
Seattle’s big inning started with Robinson Cano’s double. Kyle Seager followed with an RBI single and Morrison was able to beat the Red Sox shift with a single into right field to put runners on the corners. Lackey was visibly miffed that Morrison’s grounder got through the defense and he followed by walking Mike Zunino to load the bases.
Dustin Ackley then made Lackey work through a 13-pitch at-bat, eventually hitting a grounder to first. Napoli threw to second to get the second out but Lackey did not cover first base and the chance at an inning ending double play was missed. Seager scored and Lackey struggled with his composure. A wild pitch allowed Morrison to score and a walk to Brad Miller and Willie Bloomquist’s single loaded the bases.
With one swing, Chavez surpassed his RBI total for the season. Brock Holt was playing shallow and unable to chase down Chavez’s line drive, clearing the bases and giving Seattle a 7-2 lead.
Lackey was done after 3 2-3 innings, snapping a string of 39 straight starts going at least five innings. He gave up seven hits and walked three. Lackey needed 36 pitches to get through three innings and threw 38 pitches in getting just two outs in the fourth.
NOTES: Hernandez allowed a homer for the first time since April 21 vs. Houston. … Lackey’s last start of less than five innings was May 14, 2013, vs. Tampa Bay when he went 4 1-3 innings. … Boston manager John Farrell said it’s possible injured OF Shane Victorino (hamstring) could rejoin the team this weekend in New York depending on his rehab starts this week.
