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Sexson's homer lifts Mariners past Red Sox

Jun 27, 2007 - 7:29 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Mariners' slugger Richie Sexson has struggled through the first two months of the season, but his bat is heating up now.

Sexson hit a two-run homer to snap a tie in the sixth inning and lead the Seattle Mariners to an 8-7 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.

Sexson's 15th homer - fifth in his last nine games - off reliever Javier Lopez (1-1) followed Jose Vidro's single and put the Mariners ahead, 8-6.

"They typically come in bunches," Sexson said of his home run splurge. "I've had a decent month here and I'm looking to carry it over."

After striking out in a couple of earlier at-bats, Sexson said he was looking forward to doing something to help the team.

"I had some chances earlier in the game, once with the bases loaded and messed it up, so it was just nice to bounce back and help out," Sexson said.

The win was the sixth in their last seven games for Seattle, while Boston has lost its last seven games at Safeco Field.

Sexson admitted that the energy flows a little more when Boston comes to town.

"We want to play well against the best," Sexson said. "It kind of shows what we are made of and that we do have a good team. Any time you can beat tough teams like this it's a confidence boost."

The Red Sox threatened in the eighth when rookie reliever Brandon Morrow issued a leadoff walk to Coco Crisp and moved to third on Dustin Pedroia's bloop single.

The Mariners then gave the ball to lefthander George Sherrill, who struck out David Ortiz. Closer J.J. Putz relieved Sherrill, and surrendered a sacrifice fly to Kevin Youkilis, which scored Crisp to trim the lead to 8-7. Putz escaped further damage in the eighth and struck out the side in the ninth for his 22nd save in as many chances this season. He got pinch hitter Manny Ramirez on three pitches.

"It's never a pleasant sight to look in the on-deck circle and see him just sitting there waiting for you," Putz said about Ramirez. "I was able to get ahead of him and get him to chase some pitches. Yeah, it was exciting."

Felix Hernandez, who pitched a one-hit shutout the last time he faced Boston in April at Fenway Park, could not hold a 4-1 lead and gave up 11 hits and six runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Trailing 6-4, Boston rallied to tie it in the sixth. Eric Hinske led off the frame with a solo homer before Alex Cora doubled and Crisp sacrificed. With two outs, Eric O'Flaherty (5-0) relieved Hernandez and yielded a single to Ortiz to make it 6-6.

"We got a lot of key hits," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "I thought we showed a lot of fight and spirit to come back and we got that thing tied. We didn't push the go-ahead run across, but we did a lot of good things."

Rookie Kason Gabbard, filling in for the injured Curt Schilling who is on the disabled list with tendinitis, made his second start for the Red Sox and lasted just 3 1/3 innings, giving up four runs and six hits, while issuing six walks and hitting a batter.

"After Ichiro I got out of the groove a little bit and I just couldn't get back in the groove," Gabbard said.