Bergman steadies Mariners
He allows just four hits over seven innings in 5-0 win over Red Sox
BOSTON — Christian Bergman’s emotions shifted from frustration and anxiety to trying to block out his previous start.
When he got back on the mound, he certainly pitched relaxed.
Bergman rebounded from a rough outing with seven shutout innings and the Seattle Mariners halted Boston’s season-high sixgame winning streak with a 5-0 victory over the Red Sox on Sunday.
“It’s a little bit of all of that,” Bergman said. “You want to get back out there.”
Bergman (2-2) allowed four hits, walked two and struck out two. He got a lot of help from his infielders when they turned a double-play in each of the first four innings.
“He attacked them and had the double-play ball going, which was huge,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said.
Bergman was tagged for 14 hits and 10 runs over four innings in a loss his previous start.
Robinson Cano hit a two-run homer and Guillermo Heredia a solo shot for the Mariners, who averted a three-game sweep with just their second win in nine games. Seattle was shut out the first two games.
Three relievers completed the combined five-hitter, with closer Edwin Diaz getting the last three outs despite errors by infielders.
Rick Porcello (3-6) gave up 11 hits, but only two runs in 6 1/3 innings.
The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has had trouble making good pitches for extended innings this season.
“It comes down to consistent location,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said.
Seattle finished one off its club record for most double plays turned in a game.
After being shut out for the first 21 innings of the series, the Mariners moved ahead 1-0 in the fourth when Kyle Seager raced home from third after Porcello bounced a pitch that went over catcher Sandy Leon’s right shoulder and onto the screen. Seager had doubled leading off and advanced on Danny Valencia’s single.
Heredia homered over the Green Monster in the eighth and Cano sent his into the centre-field bleachers an inning later.
Roster moves
Seattle sent Saturday’s losing pitcher, RHP Rob Whalen, to Triple-A Tacoma and brought up RHP Ryne Harper from the same club.
The Red Sox also made moves with pitchers, sending Saturday’s winner, lefty Brian Johnson, to Triple-A Pawtucket and promoting RHP Blaine Boyer.
Farrell said after the game that the Red Sox decided to keep Boyer up and send RHP Brandon Workman down to make room when ace David Price is activated.
Boyer made his Red Sox debut, retiring the only two batters he faced.