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Seattle Mariners

Doug Fister, Mariners blank Red Sox for fifth straight victory

Mariners
Mariners' Miguel Olivo makes the out on a pop foul to end the sixth inning. (Associated Press)

BOSTON – Seattle right-hander Doug Fister knew he had some luck on his side against the Red Sox.

Fister worked out of trouble three times in 5 2/3 scoreless innings and Seattle’s bullpen continued its solid stretch, lifting the Mariners to a 2-0 win over Boston on Saturday night.

“I felt like it was a constant struggle,” Fister said. “It still hasn’t sunk in yet. Yeah, it was a struggle, but the defense picked me up.”

The tricky night started right off the bat for Fister when Boston loaded the bases in the first inning but couldn’t capitalize.

Boston aided him when it loaded the bases with no outs four innings later, but had a base-running gaffe by Jacoby Ellsbury that helped squelch the threat.

“It looks to me that he looks like he’s at his best when it’s a tough situation,” Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. “You’ve got to make pitches at this level, especially against this lineup.”

Seattle’s Milton Bradley had an RBI double before being ejected a few minutes later, and the Mariners’ bullpen pitched the final 3 1/3 innings. Seattle’s pen has held opponents scoreless for the last 13 1/3 innings.

It was the Mariners’ fifth straight win.

“Everybody is real confident,” Seattle catcher Miguel Olivo said. “Right now I don’t see anybody afraid to throw the ball.”

Fister (2-3) allowed five hits, walked five and fanned four.

Aaron Laffey pitched 2 1/3 of one-hit relief and Brandon League got the final three outs for his seventh save in seven attempts.

Bradley’s double gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead in the second, halting a 15 1/3 inning scoreless stretch by John Lackey (2-3). Ichiro Suzuki walked and Chone Figgins singled before Bradley doubled just inside the left-field line.

Bradley, standing at second following his double, was ejected by second base umpire Gerry Davis after Olivo was out on a close grounder at first.

Wedge had just gone back to the dugout after arguing the play with Tim Tichenor, but was not tossed.

Seattle AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
I.Suzuki rf 3 1 2 0 2 0 .328
Figgins 3b 5 0 2 0 0 2 .214
Bradley lf 2 0 1 1 0 1 .200
Langrhns pr-lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .175
Olivo c 4 0 0 0 0 0 .217
Smoak 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .284
Cust dh 2 1 1 0 2 0 .193
M.Saunders cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .225
Ryan ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 .184
Ja.Wilson 2b 3 0 1 1 0 0 .250
Totals 33 2 8 2 4 5
Boston AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Ellsbury cf 3 0 1 0 2 0 .266
Pedroia 2b 4 0 0 0 1 0 .255
Ad.Gonzalez 1b 3 0 1 0 1 1 .314
Youkilis 3b 3 0 1 0 1 0 .218
Scutaro pr-ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189
Ortiz dh 4 0 0 0 0 2 .267
J.Drew rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .269
Lowrie ss-3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .368
Crawford lf 3 0 0 0 1 0 .155
Saltlmacchia c 4 0 2 0 0 0 .216
Totals 32 0 7 0 6 4
Seattle 001 001 000—2 8 0
Boston 000 000 000—0 7 1

E—Lackey (1). LOB—Seattle 10, Boston 11. 2B—Bradley (5), Ellsbury (7), Youkilis (6), J.Drew (3), Lowrie (5), Saltalamacchia (3). RBIs—Bradley (12), Ja.Wilson (4). SB—I.Suzuki 2 (10). S—Ryan. SF—Ja.Wilson. RLISP—Seattle 6, Boston 8. RMU—Lowrie. GIDP—Ellsbury. DP—Seattle 2.
Seattle IP H R ER BB SO ERA
Fister W, 2-3 52/3 5 0 0 5 4 2.70
Laffey H, 1 21/3 1 0 0 1 0 1.80
League S, 7-7 1 1 0 0 0 0 2.45
Boston IP H R ER BB SO ERA
Lackey L, 2-3 6 7 2 2 4 3 5.65
Okajima 12/3 0 0 0 0 1 7.36
Wheeler 11/3 1 0 0 0 1 8.31

IR-S—Laffey 2-0. T—3:05. A—37,901 (37,493).