SEATTLE — Brock Holt doubled and scored the go ahead run on Rickie Weeks’ error with one out in the ninth inning, Shane Victorino hit his first home run of the season, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Thursday night for their fourth win in five games.
Holt lined the second pitch of the ninth from Seattle closer Fernando Rodney (1-2) into left-center and was easily safe at second when Weeks’ throw sailed over Robinson Cano’s head. Holt was sacrificed to third by Xander Bogaerts and pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval was hit by a pitch.
Mookie Betts followed with a flyball that was likely deep enough for Holt to score anyway. But Weeks closed his glove too soon and everyone was safe on the error.
Matt Barnes (2-0) allowed two hits in the eighth but escaped without giving up the lead. Koji Uehara pitched the ninth for his eighth save.
While Holt got Boston’s ninth-inning rally started, the Red Sox were in position because of Victorino. Boston’s right fielder homered in the fourth off Seattle starter Roenis Elias and made a tremendous running catch on the warning track in the seventh to start a double play and likely save a run.
With Chris Taylor on first and running on the play, Justin Ruggiano hit a drive deep to right that Victorino was able to reach over his head and catch just before crashing into the wall. He quickly turned and threw to first for the double play on Taylor to the inning. Taylor likely would have scored if Victorino failed to make the catch.
The Mariners continued to struggle with runners in scoring position, leaving Cano standing at third in the first inning and failing to score with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth. Mike Zunino struck out looking and Boston got a break on Dustin Ackley’s groundball that bounced off the glove of first baseman Mike Napoli but right to Dustin Pedroia. Kelly raced over in time to cover and get Ackley for the final out.
Seattle pulled even in the sixth. Cruz walked on a 3-2 pitch and Seager followed with a single. The pair advanced on a wild pitch and Cruz scored on Logan Morrison’s slow grounder.
But the Mariners missed another chance in the eighth when Cano singled on a 3-2 pitch with one out and Cruz reached when Barnes couldn’t chase down his tapper off the end of the bat. Barnes recovered and got Kyle Seager to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Seattle was 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.
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