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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Nixon grand, slams Mariners


Boston Red Sox Trot Nixon watches his grand slam take flight in the seventh innng of Saturday's game against the Seattle Mariners.  
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
From wire reports

SEATTLE – Trot Nixon, dropped from second to fifth in the batting order, hit a two-out grand slam in the seventh inning as the Boston Red Sox rallied for a 6-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night.

After Seattle’s J.J. Putz struck out Manny Ramirez on a 97-mph fastball, Nixon hit an 0-1 pitch for his eighth career grand slam, his first since Sept. 1, 2003.

Mike Myers (1-0) struck out the only batter he faced in relief of Wade Miller in the sixth to earn his first win. Keith Foulke pitched the ninth for his ninth save in 11 chances.

Trailing 3-1 entering the seventh, Boston got an RBI double from Mark Bellhorn off Ron Villone (0-2). Edgar Renteria – who replaced Nixon in the No. 2 spot – singled one out later and David Ortiz was hit by a pitch.

Villone was pulled, and after Ramirez struck out, Nixon sent a fastball from Putz an estimated 398 feet to right-center field.

Boston improved to 10-3 in May.

Ramirez hit a solo homer in the sixth, the 399th of his career, moving into a tie for 39th on the all-time list with Al Kaline and Andres Galarraga.

Only four players have hit their 400th homer in a Boston uniform — Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and Andre Dawson.

Richie Sexson and Raul Ibanez hit consecutive home runs for Seattle for the second straight night.

Sexson’s homer, a 424-foot shot to center off Miller, broke a 1-all tie in the sixth. It was his 11th of the season – fifth this month – and the third straight game in which he’s homered. Ibanez followed with his sixth homer.

Miller made just his second start after missing the first month of the season with a right shoulder strain. He pitched 52/3 innings and allowed five hits and three runs.

Seattle didn’t get a hit off Miller until the fourth. Adrian Beltre led off with a single to center and scored on Bret Boone’s two-out double off the wall in right, just out of Nixon’s reach.

Seattle starter Ryan Franklin gave up just one run, four hits and struck out six in 51/3 innings. Seattle has scored more than two runs in just three of his seven starts.

Boston manager Terry Francona flipped Ortiz and Ramirez in the order, along with moving Renteria and Nixon. Francona said he’d been contemplating the move, but waited until Renteria was healthy before making the change.

Boston center fielder Johnny Damon’s 18-game hitting streak was snapped. He was 0-for-5 and was caught stealing in the fifth, the first Red Sox player caught stealing this year after eight successful attempts.

Notes

The Red Sox presented Seattle shortstop Pokey Reese, who played last season in Boston, with his World Series ring. “It was incredible, just an incredible feeling,” Reese said. He’s been on the 60-day DL all season after surgery on his right shoulder… . Renteria singled in the third, extending his hit streak to 10 games. … University of Washington football coach Tyrone Willingham threw out the first pitch Saturday. Willingham fired a strike to Jeff Nelson… .

Since starting the season 0-for-13, Jeremy Reed has batted .284. His .252 average ranks third among American League rookies, he’s second with 29 hits, tied for second with 16 runs, first with six doubles and 15 walks and second in on-base percentage (.344)… . Since moving from the seventh spot in the lineup to second on April 26, left fielder Randy Winn has hit .328. He was batting .274 in the seventh spot.