M’S Have Helped Bosox In More Ways Than One

If the Boston Red Sox hold on to their American League East Division lead the remainder of the season, the Seattle Mariners might want to demand some compensation for helping them to the pennant.

Boston took two out of three games from Seattle for a 11-1/2-game lead over New York.

In addition to Erik Hanson, who was the winning pitcher Saturday night, the Red Sox have received a great deal of help from four other former Mariners this season.

Lee Tinsley, who scored one run and drove in another as Boston won 7-6 Sunday, is hitting .290 with six home runs and 38 RBI. He also was instrumental in the Red Sox hot start that gave them a perhaps insurmountable lead in the East.

Reggie Jefferson also has contributed in the outfield and Bill Haselman has allowed Boston manager Kevin Kennedy to platoon his catchers.

Recently, Boston picked up relief pitcher Eric Gunderson from Seattle.

Hanson’s performance perhaps has been the most important. He picked up his 12th victory Saturday in his first appearance against his former teammates.

“I really enjoyed playing here. I tried not to think too much about it being Seattle,” Hanson said after winning. “They know me really well and I know them real well. It was a mind game out there.”

Hanson’s mind games have worked well against most teams. He has the second-best record (12-6) on the Red Sox staff.

Big hitter

The incredible production at the plate by Mike Blowers over the past month has him on pace to set a majorleague record.

With just 82 hits, Blowers has driven in 81 runs for a .9878 ratio of RBI to hits.

The previous major league best was set in 1961 when Baltimore’s Jim Gentile, a former Spokane Indians first baseman, drove in 141 runs with 147 hits for a .9592 ratio.

Jay Buhner also might break into the top 10 this season. He currently has the sixth-best ratio in history with 78 hits to 72 RBI.

Notes

Edgar Martinez went 2-for-4 Sunday, extending his hitting streak to eight games. His season high is just 11 games, but he has gone back-to-back games without a hit only twice. He has nine streaks of at least five games and his batting average hasn’t been below .333 all season.

The eighth-inning double by Felix Fermin was his first extra-base hit in a month.

The bottom three batters in the Red Sox lineup Sunday went 6-for-11 with four runs scored.