SEATTLE — John Farrell opted to pitch to Nelson Cruz with the game on the line, and the Boston Red Sox paid for it.

Cruz hit a two-out RBI single into the left-center gap to score Brad Miller from second base and send the Seattle Mariners to a 2-1 victory Friday night.

And Boston Manager John Farrell took full responsibility and blame for the decision.

“That’s a terrible decision on my part. I own that one,” Farrell said. “We had a base open. We saw Cruz’s first three at-bats he was chasing some off-speeds below the zone (three strikeouts). He was 1 for 8 against Taz previously. It didn’t work out. That’s a horrible decision on my part.”

Miller started the rally with a one-out single to deep short off Tommy Layne and advanced to second on Robinson Cano’s groundout. With two outs, first base open and Cruz leading the league with a .361 average entering the game, Farrell decided to bring in right-hander Junichi Tazawa to pitch to him. Cruz worked the count to 3-2 before his game-winner.

“We got it set up with two outs. We could easily take the bat out of his hands, walking him and have lefty-on-lefty with Layne against (left-hitting Kyle) Seager. That was the move to make,” said Farrell.

YANKEES: New York recalled Bryan Mitchell from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and optioned fellow right-hander Jose Ramirez to the Triple-A club before Saturday night’s game against Kansas City.

New York will have to make another roster move before Sunday’s series finale to make room for Chris Capuano, who is coming off the disabled list to make the start.

MARLINS: Right-hander Mat Latos left the game against Atlanta in the fourth inning because of a bruised left shin after being hit by a line drive.

X-rays were negative, but Latos said there was swelling and a knot on his shin. He walked out of the clubhouse using a crutch and was noncommittal about whether he’ll be able to make his next scheduled start.

REDS: Left-handed reliever Sean Marshall will have more shoulder surgery next week, ending his chances of making a comeback in the final year of his contract with Cincinnati.

The Reds added three years and $16.5 million to Marshall’s contract when they got him from the Cubs before the 2012 season.

TWINS: Outfielder Jordan Schafer went on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. The team activated outfielder Shane Robinson off the family emergency list.

METS: Infielder Dilson Herrera was placed on the 15-day disabled list and third baseman Eric Campbell was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League.

Herrera broke the tip of his middle finger on his throwing hand while taking pregame grounders Friday.

Campbell arrived on a red-eye flight from Las Vegas at 6 a.m. and was in the starting lineup at third base.

“It’s better coming this was than going the other way,” he said.

GIANTS: Right fielder Hunter Pence came off the disabled list, giving the defending World Series champions a big boost to their struggling offense.

Pence was hit by a pitch during spring training and broke his left forearm just above the wrist.

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