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Red Sox try to bounce back vs. Mariners

Aug 23, 2014 - 1:27 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Boston Red Sox try to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss on Saturday when they play the middle test of a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park.

Boston's slide reached six games on Friday following a stunning 5-3 setback in the series opener.

The hosts led 3-0 heading into the ninth and managed to post the first out of the frame when Kyle Seager fouled out. After Logan Morrison singled to left Mike Zunino struck out swinging, leaving Seattle down to its final out.

The odds were still stacked against the Mariners, but somehow the squad put all the pieces together in order to post five runs in the frame as Austin Jackson and Dustin Ackley both knocked in a pair of runs.

"It's awesome," said Ackley of the comeback. "To have that win right there against their closer, you can't have more of a confidence booster than that."

The Sox had to contend with battling Felix Hernandez and while the star hurler did not factor into the decision, he still allowed just three runs on five hits and a couple of walks over 5 2/3 innings. Hernandez, who now has an ERA of just 2.07, struck out seven.

Picking up the win for the visitors was Dominic Leone after he permitted a walk and fanned one in his only inning of work. Fernando Rodney secured his 37th save of the campaign as well.

Koji Uehara was saddled with the loss, charged with all five runs, able to retire just two batters in his third blown save and fourth loss of the campaign.

"That was pretty tough," said shortstop Brock Holt. "If that's not the tale of how this season has gone so far, then I don't know what is. Up three in the ninth, they score five runs and hit one ball hard. Finding holes. Bloop hits. Yeah, it's tough."

Recent acquisition Yoenis Cespedes accounted for all three runs for Boston, launching his 21st home run of the season. David Ortiz logged two hits and scored once for the Sox.

Victorious in three straight outings and his last four decisions overall, Chris Young is now shooting for his 13th triumph of the season as he takes the hill for Seattle this afternoon.

The Princeton product last pitched on Sunday against Detroit on the road where he surrendered four hits and a walk during six shutout innings of work. Young, who has a career mark of 2-1 with a 4.20 ERA versus the Red Sox, struck out four Tigers to push his total on the season to 92.

As for the Red Sox, they are hoping right-hander Brandon Workman can get it turned around out on the mound today. Workman, who is just 1-7 on the season, has not posted a victory since June 10, saddled with seven consecutive defeats in as many outings.

The latest defeat for the hurler was logged against the Angels earlier this week when he allowed just two runs on six hits and a couple of walks. Workman, who won his only career start versus Seattle, managed to make it through seven innings and struck out five Angels.

As a unit, the Red Sox have an ERA of 3.92, ranking them 21st in the majors at the moment, compared to Seattle which is tops in baseball with a 2.93 ERA as opponents hits a paltry .224 against them.