SEATTLE (AP) — Between rumors of possibly being on the trade block and a miserable slump at the plate, Boston’s Alex Verdugo was ready to leave July behind.
He started August with a jolt that helped wake up the Red Sox’s slumbering offense.
Verdugo hit a two-run homer, Reese McGuire added his first of the season fresh off the injured list, and the Red Sox snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-4 win over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.
Following a rather quiet trade deadline for Boston, the Red Sox knocked around Seattle starter Bryce Miller for six runs and some loud contact.
Verdugo provided the biggest blow with his eighth homer of the season out to center field and gave Boston a 5-1 lead. It was a welcomed sight for Verdugo after an awful July where he hit just .151.
“There’s no secret by July was tough. Going through a lot but I also feel like it was physically and mentally just kind of grinding in certain areas and pressing when I shouldn’t have been,” Verdugo said. “To kind of slow down some stuff and kind of feel like I’m more relaxed in the box and I’m kind of timing up the ball a lot better.”
McGuire followed Verdugo’s homer an inning later with a solo shot into the right field seats. McGuire had been out since late June with an oblique injury, but the native of nearby Covington, Washington, returned and clubbed his first long ball since Sept. 24, 2022, in Yankee Stadium.
Christian Arroyo also had a key two-run double as part of Boston’s three-run fourth inning that eluded the reach of new Seattle outfielder Dominic Canzone, who made his debut after coming over from Arizona in a trade on Monday.
“It was just a matter of time. We’re gonna hit. We will hit,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. The Red Sox had scored three runs or less in four straight games before Tuesday.
Boston starter Brayan Bello (8-6) worked out of an early jam and managed to get through six innings. Seattle had a 1-0 lead three batters into the game after Eugenio Suarez’s RBI single, but the Mariners were unable to add on despite having the bases loaded with no outs.
Suarez hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning and Ty France had an RBI double in the sixth, but Bello mostly kept Seattle’s bats quiet. He struck out seven and got a big defensive play to end the sixth inning when Jarren Duran made a sliding catch of Cade Marlowe’s flare that saved a run.
Seattle threatened in the eighth with runners at second and third and one out against reliever Josh Winckowski, but Mike Ford and Josh Rojas struck out to end the inning. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 24th save.
“We scored some runs tonight but had chances. The first inning you’re hoping to come away with a little more than we did,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said.
Miller (7-4) allowed six earned runs for the second straight start and has given up six homers over those two outings. He struck out four and suffered his first loss since June 4 against Texas.
MINOR DEALS
Both the Mariners and Red Sox made minor deals ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline. Seattle swapped pitchers with Eduard Bazardo coming from Baltimore and minor league pitcher Logan Rinehart going back to the Orioles. Bazardo was designated for assignment by Baltimore last weekend and will report to Triple-A Tacoma.
Boston acquired infielder Luis Urías from Milwaukee in exchange for minor league pitcher Bradley Blalock. Urías played in 20 games this season for the Brewers, but was optioned to Triple-A Worcester.
ROSTER MOVE
With McGuire returning, the Red Sox designated catcher Jorge Alfaro for assignment. McGuire had been out since June 22 with an oblique strain.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: RHP Kutter Crawford (5-5, 3.86) allowed one run and three hits over 5 2/3 innings in a victory over San Francisco in his last start. Crawford has won three of his past four decisions.
Mariners: RHP Logan Gilbert (9-5, 3.83) went 4-0 with a 2.78 ERA in five starts in July. Gilbert allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings in his last start against Arizona.
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