The Mariners had plenty of opportunities to let the game get away. But after watching a two-run lead evaporate in the eighth inning, catcher Rob Johnson made sure they went up for good.
His streaking shot over the first baseman's glove brought home two runs in the top of the 11th.
Not even a near meltdown from pitcher Mark Lowe in the bottom of the 11th could keep the Mariners from leaving Boston with a game-one 7-6 victory today in Boston.
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The winning shot was the cap on a powerhouse performance by the young catcher. Johnson finished the game going 3-for-5 with three doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Felix Hernandez got the start and pitched a strong seven innings with three earned runs and seven strikeouts. He left the game with a 5-3 lead, but the victory was taken from him after Sean White and Shawn Kelley combined to give up two runs, sending the game to extra innings.
Boston starter Tim Wakefield, who leads the Red Sox with 10 wins, was beat up giving up five earned runs and 10 hits.
Boston went up early with two runs in the first, but Hernandez settled down and the Mariners bats lit up.
Russell Branyan and Johnson each brought in a run before Ronny Cedeno put the Mariners up with a two-run homer, as Seattle scored four runs in two innings.
Boston's J.D. Drew and Jose Lopez traded home runs before Nick Green's two-run double in the eighth off Kelley tied up the game at five-apiece.
With Seattle's bullpen looking shaky, Chris Jakubauskas came in to pitch two shutout innings before Lowe finished things up in the bottom of the 11th, though not before surrendering a home run and allowing the tying run to reach base.
As for the new Mariners, Ryan Langerhans continued his strong performance in his first Mariners appearance, batting 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Chris Woodward was left effective as he failed to reach base.
Seattle will bring Garrett Olson to the plate to start the Fourth of July matchup at 10:05 a.m.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
