Game 109: Mariners at Red Sox - Hey, there's a game today too!

Ben Whitehead
Contributing Writer

The MLB Trade Deadline has come and gone. Only a few changes to the Boston Red Sox roster, but they are mighty big.

After the Sox’ 8-2 win over the Seattle Mariners, General Manager Ben Cherington made the move to send Jose Iglesias to Detroit and three lower-level prospects to Chicago in acquiring White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy. The Red Sox (64-44) lose their best defensive shortstop, but gain pitching depth and a player many in the industry term as a winner. Peavy is not expected to make it to Boston until Thursday.

The Red Sox called up infielder Brock Holt, who starts at third base tonight against the Mariners (50-56). John Lackey tries to turn things around. Lackey is 7-8 with a 3.19 ERA, but has lost three of his last four starts, giving up nine runs on 19 hits in his last two against the Yankees and Orioles.

Here is the lineup for the Red Sox tonight (first pitch – 7:10 pm EDT):

1. Ellsbury, CF
2. Victorino, RF
3. Pedroia, 2B
4. Ortiz, DH
5. Napoli, 1B
6. Saltalamacchia, C
7. Carp, LF
8. Drew, SS
9. Holt, 3B

Lackey, P

The Mariners starting pitcher is Hisashi Iwakuma. The Japanese right-hander is 10-4 with a 2.87 ERA, the seventh best in the American League. In his one start against Boston this season, Iwakuma was tagged with six earned runs on eight hits in just three innings. Seattle tied the game late, giving him a no-decision.

Just keep swimming
As we noted in yesterday’s pregame, Dustin Pedroia was bound to bust out of his 3-for-39 slump in a big way. On cue, Pedroia did just that, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, including hitting a two-run home run in his second at-bat of the game. Afterward, Pedroia talked about the mindset he takes:

Just keep plugging away. You go through streaks where you don’t hit the ball well or hit the ball at people, so you know you’ve got to just keep going.

Let us know what you think about tonight’s game by commenting below.

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