Red Sox look to tighten protection, pitching in finale vs. Mariners

If streaks are made to be broken, the Boston Red Sox have one they are particularly eager to snap: They have allowed at least seven runs in each of their past six games.

The next chance for Boston’s pitchers to stage a turnaround comes Wednesday afternoon when the Red Sox host the Seattle Mariners in the decisive matchup of a three-game series.

Boston has surrendered a combined 63 runs in those six games, most recently falling 10-6 to the Mariners on Tuesday. The Red Sox beat Seattle 14-7 on Monday, but they are just 3-8 since the All-Star break.

“Not surprised because it’s 162 (games). We’re playing with kids and they’re still learning,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “Because they played so well for a month and a half doesn’t mean that it’s the complete (package). …

“The development continues. You see it the way we work every day. Challenging them with their defensive drills. We’re adding stuff offensively for them to be better. It doesn’t stop.

“Over the course of 162, you’re going to go through stretches. We’re not perfect. We have a talented team, and our job as coaches is to continue working with them and helping them to be big-leaguers.”

Seattle’s Justin Turner, who was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, played first base and batted in the cleanup spot on Tuesday. He had a hit and drove in two runs against Boston, the team he played for in 2023.

“I’ve been through just about everything you can go through as a player,” Turner said prior to the game. “I’ve been traded now twice, I’ve been designated for assignment, I’ve been non-tendered … bounced around a few organizations, so I’ve seen a lot of stuff, and hopefully I can help these guys out in whatever way they need me.”

Seattle’s Victor Robles, Jorge Polanco and Dylan Moore each added two hits on Tuesday.

“Really excited about our offense,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “The guys are really starting to come together. Certainly, the additions have helped, but some of the guys that have been here all year are picking it up as well.”

Boston committed three errors that led to five unearned runs on Tuesday. Two of the three errors came in Seattle’s five-run fifth inning. The Red Sox lead the major leagues with 81 errors this season.

The probable Wednesday pitchers are right-handers George Kirby (8-7, 3.03 ERA) for Seattle and Brayan Bello (10-5, 5.27) for Boston.

Kirby tossed seven scoreless innings in a 10-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday. It was his ninth straight quality start.

Kirby, who is known for his exceptional control, has walked just 14 batters in 130 2/3 innings this season. He is 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in five career starts against the Red Sox, including a 1-0 victory on March 29, when he fired 6 2/3 shutout innings.

Bello has the highest ERA among pitchers in Boston’s starting rotation, but he is 3-0 with a 3.94 ERA in three career starts against Seattle. He defeated the Mariners on March 28, when he threw five innings of two-run ball.

In his latest start, Bello was pulled after surrendering three runs in five innings during Boston’s 9-7 victory over the visiting New York Yankees on Friday.

Seattle and Boston have split six games this season. Wednesday’s matchup is the final regular-season game between them, giving the winner an advantage toward postseason tiebreakers.

Servais said Robles, who left the Tuesday game due to a sore hip, won’t play Wednesday.

–Field Level Media