Mariners bounce back, beat Red Sox 7-2

Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 23, 2018

Mike Leake’s gem came at the right time, and Mitch Haniger drove in three runs with a pair of doubles as Seattle beat Boston 7-2 Saturday at Fenway Park.

The Mariners (47-30) broke a five-game losing steak, and overcame Friday’s tough 14-10 loss in which they led 4-0 early and 10-5 at one point.

The final game of the series with the Red Sox (51-27) is at 10 a.m. PT Sunday, with Marco Gonzales (7-4) pitching opposite Boston ace Chris Sale (6-4).

The Mariners had 14 hits and jumped out to a 7-0 lead Saturday, including scoring early against Eduardo Rodriguez. Haniger hit an RBI double in the first inning, and his two-run double highlighted the rest of the scoring.

But, the story was Leake, who gave up three hits and no runs while striking out five and walking two in eight innings. Closer Edwin Diaz gave up two runs in the ninth inning, but he finished the game for Leake (8-4).

Nelson Cruz had three hits for Seattle, a day after his seven-RBI game wasn’t quite enough as Boston won 14-10.

Mitch Moreland’s ninth-inning RBI triple was Boston’s only extra-base hit among its six hits.