Holt's 11th Inning RBI Single Lifts Sox Past Seattle, 3-2
SEATTLE -- Still clinging to their place in the American League East race, the Boston Red Sox have been a big hit away from making a move in the standings.
Brock Holt finally delivered with a one-out, RBI single in the 11th inning, lifting the Red Sox to a 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.
The Red Sox (59-48) managed a split of the four-game series after dropping the middle two contests. They moved within two games of the AL East co-leaders, the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays.
"We go into every game as a must-win," Holt said, "especially with the way the Blue Jays and Orioles are playing. They've been winning, so we've got to keep winning. It's three good teams, and it should be a fun final two months."
Holt, who entered the game in the seventh inning, drove a pitch from Cody Martin up the middle to drive in Travis Shaw. Martin (1-2) was the sixth pitcher used by a Mariners, and he gave up a leadoff single to Shaw and a sacrifice bunt by Sandy Leon.
Brad Ziegler came on in the bottom of the 13th to earn his third save of the season after Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel (2-3) ended the ninth and struck out the side in the 10th.
"Obviously, that's a must-win situation when you see (Kimbrel) come into the (ninth) like that with the score tied," Shaw said.
Seattle (54-53) got a leadoff walk in the bottom of the 13th but ended up stranding the runner on third base when Ziegler struck out pinch hitter Seth Smith to finish off the win.
Shaw went 2-for-5 with a solo home run. Teammate Mookie Betts added a pair of hits and an RBI.
Seattle rookie Ariel Miranda, making his first major league start and his debut as a Mariner, turned in a solid night but was not involved in the decision. Miranda, who was acquired in a deadline deal that sent veteran starter Wade Miley to Baltimore, allowed two runs on eight hits over six innings.
"Miranda, we didn't know what to expect there," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "After the first inning, he settled in nicely."
Boston's Drew Pomeranz gave up two runs on four hits over six innings.
Shawn O'Malley had three hits for the Mariners, including his first home run of the season in the fifth.
O'Malley and the Mariners threatened in the bottom of the ninth inning, when new Boston reliever Fernando Abad gave up a single to O'Malley and a two-out walk before Kimbrel came on to retire Robinson Cano for the final out.
"Frustrating night for our offense," Servais said. "To hold that team to two runs into the 11th inning, you've got to get more offense."
Boston's David Ortiz, playing what was likely to be his final game at Safeco Field, went 1-for-5 and received two ovations -- after his at-bats in the eighth and 10th innings -- as the local Red Sox fans twice said goodbye to the retiring 40-year-old designated hitter.
Shaw hit his 13th home run of the season, a leadoff shot in the second inning, giving the Red Sox a 1-0 lead. Betts added an RBI double in the fifth to put the Red Sox ahead 2-0.
After O'Malley led off the bottom of the fifth with a homer, Seattle tied the score 2-2 on a two-out single from Dae-Ho Lee. Pomeranz minimized the damage that inning when, with his back turned, he knocked down a hard liner by Kyle Seager and threw to first to strand runners at first and third.
The score stayed like that until the 11th.
"You kind of got that feeling throughout the game that someone's going to have to manufacture a run," Holt said. "It was a big at-bat by Travis (Shaw), and it was good to see Sandy get the bunt down."
NOTES: The Mariners placed their former closer, RHP Steve Cishek, on the 15-day disabled list due to a left hip labral tear. Seattle also promoted LHP Ariel Miranda and RHP Blake Parker from Triple-A Tacoma, optioned RHP Donn Roach to Tacoma and released RHP Mayckol Guaipe. ... Boston OF Michael Martinez was claimed off waivers by Cleveland. The Red Sox designated Martinez for assignment earlier in the week. ... Boston 1B Hanley Ramirez (sprained left wrist) was not in the lineup again Thursday. ... The Red Sox announced their probable starters for the upcoming road series against the Dodgers, which begins Friday. RHP Steven Wright will pitch Friday's opener, with LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (Saturday) and LHP David Price (Sunday) following.
