Out of Right Field: Recap, takeaways from the Boston Red Sox’s 7-6 victory against the Seattle Mariners

Pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning as the Boston Red Sox rallied for a 7-6 victory against the Seattle Mariners on Friday night at T-Mobile Field.

The Red Sox trailed 6-1 through four innings before coming back to even the series at a game apiece.

Mariners right-hander Hunter Strickland, who got two saves as Seattle opened the season last week with a two-game series against Oakland in Japan, took over in the ninth with a chance for another but lasted just one-third of an inning.

Of note

Mariners starter Yusei Kikuchi pitched six strong innings but was denied his first major league victory. The left-hander allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out five. … Mallex Smith, Domingo Santana and Omar Narvaez hit solo home runs in the first two innings off Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi.

By the numbers

2.53: Kikuchi’s earned-run average through two starts, though he has yet to get his first major league victory.

Our take from right field

The Mariners certainly dig the long ball. After hitting five homers Thursday in their home opener, they added three more in the first two innings Friday.

But the offensive onslaught was undone by a shaky bullpen, which could be a season-long concern. Lefty Zac Rosscup allowed a leadoff homer in the eighth as the Red Sox pulled within 6-4, then Strickland imploded in the ninth. Does anyone miss Edwin Diaz yet?

Up next

Red Sox LHP Eduardo Rodriguez and M’s RHP Mike Leake will both make their first starts of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. Saturday at T-Mobile Park.