By Associated Press
Published: | Updated:
SEATTLE (AP) – Enmanuel Valdez hit a three-run homer, Garrett Whitlock pitched five effective innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 5-1 on Sunday.
Valdez, a fill-in second baseman for the injured Vaughn Grissom, hit a drive to right in the fourth after starting the season 0 for 8.
“It was a huge momentum shift,” Whitlock said. “I mean, he lit us up in the dugout and that was just a ginormous swing.”
Tyler O´Neill connected for a solo shot in the second against Seattle´s Bryce Miller (0-1), who was charged with four runs and six hits in five innings.
Whitlock (1-0) helped Boston to a split of the four-game series after it dropped two straight one-run games. The big right-hander allowed three hits, struck out eight and walked none.
Whitlock relied mostly on his fastball after catcher Reese McGuire saw Seattle struggling at the plate and suggested a change in strategy.
Boston Red Sox’s Rafael Devers reacts to hitting a single against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
“I feel like that´s something I need to continue to learn how to do,” Whitlock said. “And obviously that´s big on Reese to do. He the one that saw it and he´s the one that made the adjustments.”
Whitlock´s outing capped a strong series by Red Sox starters. They gave up five runs (four earned) in 22 innings with 27 strikeouts against five walks.
“Like I´ve been saying all along: I do believe we´re going to pitch,” Boston manager Alex Cora said.
“It just kind of shows you what´s possible. You know that your rotation is very talented. We´ve been talking about these guys for a while, since we got here.”
Seattle got its only run when Mitch Haniger doubled and scored on Josh Rojas´ two-out single in the second.
Justin Slaten pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings for his first career save in his second major league appearance.
Coming off a strong rookie campaign, Miller struck out six and walked two.
The Mariners finished with four hits.
“Offensively, we just haven´t gotten it going yet,” manager Scott Servais said. “Again, it´s four games into the season. We need to be more consistent there in what we´re doing, and we will be.”
WORTH NOTING
The Mariners signed right-hander Michael Mariot to a minor league deal and assigned the pitcher to Triple-A Tacoma. Mariot is 2-0 with a 5.85 ERA and two saves in 45 career major league appearances.
TRAINERS ROOM
Red Sox: Rafael Devers (shoulder) returned to the lineup after missing two games with a shoulder injury. The third baseman is a “full go,” Cora said. He went 1 for 5 with a single in the first and a strikeout.
Cora was coy about the status of closer Kenley Jansen, who woke up Friday with a sore back after earning a season-opening save in Boston´s 6-4 win over Seattle on Thursday. But Jansen warmed up in the ninth in case Slaten struggled, indicating treatment with a chiropractor was successful.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: RHP Tanner Houck makes his season debut Monday in the first game of a three-game series at Oakland.
Mariners: RHP Emerson Hancock makes his fourth major league start Monday in the first game of a three-game home series against Cleveland.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Boston Red Sox’s Reese McGuire follows through on an RBI groundout to score Masataka Yoshida as Seattle Mariners catcher Seby Zavala, left, looks on during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Cody Bolton throws against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford lies on the ground after losing his footing while trying to make the throw to first on a single from Boston Red Sox’s Masataka Yoshida during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Boston Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire catches a ball in the bullpen while warming up before a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
