Schwarber's 3-run double lifts Red Sox over Mariners 8-4

SEATTLE (AP) — Pinch-hitter Kyle Schwarber hit a tiebreaking three-run double in the eighth inning and the Boston Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 8-4 on Tuesday night to keep pace in the competitive AL wild-card race.

Schwarber, out of the lineup in favor of Alex Verdugo, entered against reliever Drew Steckenrider with one out in the eighth and the bases loaded. His double to right ended a tense standoff with the Mariners, who beat the Red Sox 5-4 on Monday with the help of Schwarber's fielding error.

Verdugo added a two-run home run in Boston’s next at-bat against Yohan Ramirez.

The victory kept the Red Sox percentage points behind the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays for the AL's two wild-card spots. Seattle dropped to three games back.

Adam Ottavino (6-3) recorded the last out of the seventh inning for the win, which came after a stretch of six losses in eight games for the Red Sox. Starter Nathan Eovaldi struck out nine in five innings but left with the game tied at 2.

Xander Bogaerts tripled off the wall in right field to start the eighth inning, chasing reliever Joe Smith (2-4). Steckenrider entered tied with teammate Casey Sadler for the longest active scoreless streak in the AL at 18 1/3 innings, but he walked Rafael Devers to put runners at the corners. After a force out, he walked the bases loaded after starting with two strikes to pinch-hitter Travis Shaw.

The outing was a rare failure by Seattle’s bullpen, one of the top performing units in the major leagues this year. Reliever Anthony Misiewicz also gave up a home run, allowing Seattle native Bobby Dalbec to tie it at 2 in the sixth after he inherited a one-run lead from starter Tyler Anderson.

It was Boston's 42nd come-from-behind win this year.

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source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Schwarber-s-3-run-double-lifts-Red-Sox-over-16460097.php