Red Sox at Mariners
Seattle ace James Paxton has dominated Boston in three career outings and looks to continue the trend when the Mariners host the Red Sox on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. Paxton is 2-0 with a 0.39 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and .163 batting average against in 23 career innings versus Boston.
Paxton will attempt to cool down a Red Sox squad that prevailed 2-1 in Thursday's series opener for its fourth straight win and 20th in 28 contests. Xander Bogaerts hit the tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning - his 10th blast of the campaign - while J.D. Martinez went 2-for-3 for his fourth multi-hit performance of the month. Seattle's setback was just its third in 14 games as the offense recorded just six hits after scoring 24 runs during a four-game winning streak that came to an end. The Mariners trail first-place Houston by one-half game in the American League West while the Red Sox lead the AL East by one over the New York Yankees.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (8-3, 3.54 ERA) vs. Mariners LH James Paxton (6-1, 3.02)
Porcello has allowed two earned runs in each of his last three starts, going 2-1 during the stretch. The 29-year-old lost to the Chicago White Sox in his last turn after giving up three runs - two earned - and five hits over six innings. Porcello is 6-5 with a 3.62 ERA in 12 career starts against Seattle and has enjoyed success against Nelson Cruz (6-for-34, homer) while getting hit hard by Denard Span (19-for-48, homer).
Paxton is 5-0 with a 1.87 ERA over his last eight starts and has won six straight decisions overall. The 29-year-old struck out 10 against Tampa Bay in his last turn for his fifth double-digit strikeout effort of the season as he gave up three runs and five hits over seven innings to pick up the win. Paxton is 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA in six home starts this season, holding opposing batters to a .175 average in those contests.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mariners had posted seven consecutive home victories prior to Thursday's loss.
2. Seattle SS Jean Segura was 0-for-4 in the opener after going 7-for-13 over his previous three contests.
3. Boston LF Andrew Benintendi was hitless in four at-bats Thursday, ending his streak of reaching base safely at 18 consecutive games.