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April 10, 2007
The fear of Seattle manager Mike Hargrove was that his Mariners would be quite rusty today in their game against Boston.
Seattle hadn't played since last Wednesday, having had a three-game series snowed out in Cleveland prior to visiting Fenway Park.
Hargrove's fears were justified. His Mariners looked as if they were playing their first spring training game as the Red Sox feasted on the poor pitching and shoddy fielding to the tune of an 11-1 lead after four innings.
First baseman Richie Sexson misplayed a popup in the first inning, though he was about to retrieve the ball, which fell behind him, and turn the play into a forceout at second base. Sexson also had trouble tracking a foul popup, which fell into the first row of the seats along the first-base line.
Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, generally a dependable fielder, botched a routine double-play grounder in the fourth, leading to a three-run Boston splurge.
At the plate, meanwhile, the Mariners' timing was off, in part because of Josh Beckett's effective use of breaking balls and changeups. Even the peerless Ichiro Suzuki looked feeble, fanning three times in a game for the first time since May 3, 2005.
And Seattle's first two pitchers -- Jeff Weaver and Jake Woods -- had trouble with location, surrendering a total of 11 hits (five for extra bases) over the first four innings.
Boston manager Terry Francona had been asked before the game if he thought the Mariners' inactivity would affect their game.
"I hope that's something that's good for us," he said.
It was.
-- STEVEN KRASNER
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 3:43 PM | Permalink
