Mariners
Boone slams Red Sox in the 11th

By José Miguel Romero
Seattle Times staff reporter

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This was one the Mariners could savor. Especially two veterans caught in the middle of the team's transition to youth, Bret Boone and Edgar Martinez.

Martinez tied the score in the bottom of the ninth inning with the second of back-to-back home runs for Seattle. Boone, saddled with a season of disappointment and a lowly .233 batting average going into last night, connected for a grand slam in the bottom of the 11th to lead the Mariners to an 8-4 win over the Boston Red Sox.

And at long last, Mariners fans at Safeco Field could say they witnessed the team's most dramatic victory of the season.

"It was a great win," Boone said, moments after being mobbed at home plate by celebrating teammates. "Sure, it always means more when you get the big hit. But the last thing I'm thinking is hit a home run. A mediocre fly ball will do it."

It would have, but Boone will certainly cherish the Mariners' first grand slam of the season. It completed a rally from a 4-1 deficit going into the bottom of the eighth inning that saw the Mariners rough up three Red Sox relievers.

"Although it's not one of his best years, he's shown he can come through," manager Bob Melvin said of Boone. "It was just a huge at-bat for us, a huge at-bat for him. Hopefully, it's the start of something good for him."

The magical 11th came about because of home runs by Miguel Olivo and Martinez, who delivered his as a pinch-hitter after having sat out in recent days so the Mariners could put Bucky Jacobsen in the lineup. The home runs were the first back-to-back home runs for the Mariners in 2004.

"For us, for me, it's been a tough year," Martinez said. "It feels better because of the way it has gone all year."

In the 11th, Olivo led off with a single to left field. Dave Hansen, a late-game defensive replacement, coaxed a walk out of Curtis Leskanic. After a perfect sacrifice bunt by Ichiro, Randy Winn was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Boone came up and, with the infield in to stop a run, crushed an 0-1 pitch from Leskanic over the wall in left-center field to end the game.

Mariners update Winning pitcher: Mike Myers (4-1). Losing pitcher: Curtis Leskanic (1-5). Today: Boston at Seattle, 1:35 p.m., no TV/KOMO (1000 AM). Starting pitchers: M's Joel Pineiro (5-10, 4.47) vs. Derek Lowe (7-9, 5.67)

That sent most of the 42,898 fans — more than a few were cheering for the visitors — into a frenzy not heard all season. It could not have been foreseen only minutes earlier.

The way Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo was going, and after a three-run home run by catcher Jason Varitek in the top of the eighth inning, the outcome hardly seemed in doubt.

Arroyo recorded 11 straight outs with strikeouts between the third and seventh innings. But Alan Embree allowed a single run in the eighth inning, and closer Keith Foulke surrendered the tying runs.

The Mariners (35-56) struggled to make contact against Arroyo, who was 3-7 going into the game. They managed just a run on three hits against him, flailing away at Arroyo's breaking balls with futility. Arroyo achieved a career high in strikeouts and a season best for Red Sox starters in that category, eclipsing Pedro Martinez's total of 11 on May 11.

In a spot start for the Mariners, Ron Villone escaped from two major jams with the help of double plays and a fine catch by Ichiro to take away extra bases from David Ortiz.

Villone, a left-hander making just his second start of the season, hung tough for six innings. He walked four, struck out three and allowed one run on five hits, leaving the game trailing 1-0.

George Sherrill held the Red Sox scoreless for 1-2/3 innings in relief of Villone, but J.J. Putz surrendered Varitek's home run. Putz, who threw 1-2/3 innings of relief Sunday, allowed a single by Manny Ramirez and a walk to Nomar Garciaparra upon entering the game. The next batter, Varitek, blasted a Putz offering deep over the right-field fence to give Boston a 4-1 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Ramirez drew a walk despite the umpires having to call the press box to make sure the count was correct on Ramirez during his at-bat. A wild pitch sent Ramirez to second base, and Garciaparra singled sharply to left field. Ramirez advanced to third and came in to score on a single by Varitek, giving the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.

The M's didn't advance a runner past first base through 5-1/3 innings, but Winn interrupted Arroyo's strikeout streak with a one-out double under Kevin Millar's glove at first base and down the right-field line. Winn advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Boone scalded a two-strike pitch back to the mound and off of Arroyo's leg to drive in Winn and tie the score.

The Mariners got to Embree for a run in the bottom of the eighth, thanks to an Ichiro single, an error by Bill Mueller and two fielder's choices, the second of which drove in Ichiro.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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