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Red Sox hand Mariners 15th straight loss

Jul 24, 2011 - 11:08 PM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford each posted three hits, two RBI and two runs scored as the Boston Red Sox handed the Seattle Mariners their franchise-worst 15th straight defeat with a 12-8 decision to sweep a three-game series at Fenway Park.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia collected three hits and drove in four while Kevin Youkilis added a two-run homer for the Red Sox, who have won seven of their last eight.

Dustin Pedroia extended his career-best hit streak to 21 games with a double in the sixth and also scored a run.

Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (6-3) tallied his 2,000th Sox strikeout and recorded his 199th career victory on Sunday, but it came the hard way.

"He had his stuff working. I'm proud of him," Saltalamacchia said of his starter. "Two thousand strikeouts is an accomplishment so I'm happy for him."

The right-hander was pulled after allowing a seventh-inning grand slam to Brendan Ryan. His line eventually showed 6 1/3 innings, 10 hits and seven runs allowed while fanning four -- the final victim Mariners left fielder Mike Carp to reach the plateau and end the sixth.

"It was awesome. I had goosebumps," added the Sox catcher when asked about his reaction to the standing ovation Wakefield received after reaching his milestone. "A guy that you've been catching and working with to get that win and the 2,000 strikeouts, it felt great."

Ryan drove in a total of five runs and Miguel Olivo added a two-run homer for the Mariners, who surpassed the old franchise record for futility at 14 games, originally set from September 2-18, 1992.

Michael Pineda (8-7) lasted just 4 1/3 innings, charged with eight hits and seven runs with four strikeouts.

Ahead 5-3, Boston cracked the game open in the home fifth. Pineda was chased after putting two on with one out. Later, with the bases loaded, Crawford singled home two, Josh Reddick added an RBI double, and Saltalamacchia chased home two more with a line single.

Pedroia then started the sixth with a double and Gonzalez scored him with a single for an 11-3 contest.

Wakefield, who had been cruising up to that point, loaded the bases with one out in the next frame, and Ryan's slam over the Green Monster cut Seattle's deficit to 11-7. Alfredo Aceves came on and retired the next two batters to limit the damage.

"I'd like to have that seventh inning back," said the 44-year-old hurler. "I was very fortunate we scored 12 runs today. When you look at the scoreboard with all those runs on your side you want to get through an inning as quickly as you can."

In the home seventh, Reddick and Saltalamacchia stroked back-to-back singles and Jacoby Ellsbury posted a run-scoring hit.

Dustin Ackley doubled in Franklin Gutierrez with two down in the ninth, but Aceves retired Olivo on a fly to left to end the slugfest.

"It seems like we're running into Groundhog Day again," said a dejected Ryan. "This is definitely frustrating. There aren?t too many laughs now. And there shouldn't be."

Ryan was hit by a pitch with one down in the first. Although Ellsbury nearly reached the deepest part of the park to rob Ackley of extra bases, Olivo took a Wakefield knuckler and deposited it into the seats atop the Monster for a 2-0 Seattle edge. Justin Smoak doubled off the wall in left-center, but was thrown out at home trying to score on Carp's base hit to right.

Ellsbury led off the home first with a double, advanced on a wild pitch, then scored on a single from Gonzalez. Youkilis followed by ripping a ball over the Monster for a 3-2 Red Sox lead.

David Ortiz singled off the giant wall in left and Crawford doubled in nearly the same spot. Two batters later, Saltalamacchia roped a single to right which scored both men to make it 5-2.

Gutierrez walked with one out in the fifth, and though Ichiro Suzuki singled, he was picked off first. That proved crucial, as only one run came in on Ryan's two-out double.

Game Notes

Wakefield recorded his 185th victory with Boston, third all-time in franchise history behind Roger Clemens and Cy Young...Only Clemens (2,590 from 1984-96) has recorded more strikeouts with the Red Sox...The Red Sox have won 18 of the last 27 games against the Mariners since June of 2008...Pedroia has also reached base in a career-best 33 consecutive games...Boston improved to 24-8 in day games, second-best in baseball to the rival Yankees...The clubs meet one final time, in Seattle, from August 12-14...The Mariners current losing skid is the longest in the majors since the Kansas City Royals dropped 19 in a row in 2005...It was "Maine Day" at Fenway, with Emmy nominated actor and Boston native John Slattery ("Mad Men") throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.