Red Sox beat Mariners 5-1 behind Abreu's homer and Early's six innings

Wilyer Abreu hit a two-run homer and Connelly Early allowed one run over six innings as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Seattle Mariners 5-1 on Saturday night in Seattle. Early entered the game with a 6-5 record. He gave up a run on two hits in the first inning, then retired the next 15 batters he faced.

Early recorded seven strikeouts and two walks while hitting three Mariners batters with pitches.

Relief pitching and late offense Tyron Guerrero pitched a scoreless seventh inning with two strikeouts. Garrett Whitlock retired the side in order in the eighth, and Danny Coulombe worked a clean ninth. Abreu hit his ninth homer of the season off Seattle starter Emerson Hancock with two outs in the fourth inning.

The Red Sox added three runs in the sixth on a wild pitch that scored Abreu and consecutive RBI infield singles by Caleb Durbin and Marcelo Mayer. The Red Sox stole three bases, two by Durbin. 500 since May 29. Boston left-hander Payton Tolle was scheduled to start against Seattle right-hander Logan Gilbert in the series finale on Sunday.