Game 118 - Mariners 5, Red Sox 4

Take a REALLY bad first inning by Josh Beckett, add Felix Hernandez as your opposing starter, toss in a run taken off the board thanks to controversy over a play at the plate (pictured), and add in an ejected manager and you have your basic 5-4 Red Sox loss to the Mariners.

Ichiro Suzuki homered on the first pitch he saw from Josh Beckett in the bottom of the 1st inning and the Mariners were on their way to a 5-run opening frame that also featured a 2-RBI single by Mike Carp and a 2-run home run by Casper Wells.

Beckett settled down nicely after that, giving up only three hits over the next four innings. Beckett's record dropped to 9-5 with the loss; his ERA rose to 2.40.

All of the Red Sox runs came courtesy of the long ball. Jacoby Ellsbury (20) and Dustin Pedroia (16) each had 2-run shots in the Red Sox half of the 4th inning. Ellsbury was also the centerpiece of a reversed call that cost the Red Sox a run. With runners on the corners in the top of the 4th inning and one out, Dustin Pedroia lofted a fly ball to right that Ichiro caught. The throw to the plate was clearly ahead of a sliding Ellsbury but the home plate umpire called him safe following a collision with catcher Josh Bard. When the call was reversed by the umpiring crew, Red Sox manager Terry Francona ended up being ejected for the 4th time this season during the ensuing argument.

NOTES -

With the home run, Ellsbury became the 1st Red Sox player with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases since Nomar Garciaparra did it back in 1997.

Kevin Youkilis missed the game with lingering back issues. Mike Aviles took his place in the lineup and went 1-3.

Tim Wakefield goes for career win #200 later this afternoon, his 4th attempt at the career milestone.