Johjima, Beltre Power Mariners Over Red Sox

Jun 26, 03:15 AM

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Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Kenji Johjima and Adrian Beltre hit back-to- back homers in the seventh inning and the Seattle Mariners topped the Boston Red Sox, 9-4, in the opener of a three-game set.

Jeff Weaver (2-6) turned in his second straight solid outing after a horrible start to the season, allowing six hits and two runs -- one earned -- with three strikeouts and two walks. Willie Bloomquist went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Mariners, who have won three straight and five of six.

"Right now, I'm feeling good. I want to take these last starts, keep them in the back of my head and know that I am capable of going out there and winning games," Weaver said.

Ichiro Suzuki went 0-for-4, ending his hitting streak at 19 games.

Julian Tavarez (5-5) was pulled after 4 1/3 innings, having let up six runs -- three earned -- on six hits with three walks and a strikeout. J.D. Drew had a two-run single and Kevin Youkilis a two-run double to provide the offense for the Red Sox, who had won four of their last five entering the game.

"He was behind in the count a lot, he threw a lot of balls," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said of Tavarez. "His stuff was good, his fastball was explosive through the zone, but he's got to stay through the zone. He left some pitches up and out of the zone, kind of misfired more than he needs to have success."

The Mariners took control with a five-run fifth. Beltre roped a leadoff double to center and Tavarez's throwing error on Yuniesky Betancourt's bunt put runners at the corners. Bloomquist scored one run with a single to center and, after a Suzuki walk, Jose Lopez plated another run with a single to left. Kyle Snyder entered later in the inning for the Red Sox, and twice forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk, giving the Mariners a 6-2 lead.

Johjima lofted a two-run shot to left in the seventh inning, and Beltre followed by belting his 10th homer of the season to left, pushing the Seattle lead to seven.

Youkilis lined a two-run double into the left-field corner with two outs in the ninth.

The Red Sox loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth, but George Sherrill came out of the bullpen and induced Julio Lugo to hit an inning-ending double play.

Johjima's double-play groundball in the second allowed Richie Sexson to cross home with the game's first run.

Coco Crisp singled to right to lead off the third, and Weaver's wild throw on a Lugo groundball allowed the runners to move up to second and third. Drew made Weaver pay for his error, poking a single into center that plated both runners.

Game Notes

The Red Sox have lost six straight games in Seattle...Youkilis has played in 120 consecutive errorless games at first base, surpassing the Red Sox club record for errorless games by a first baseman set by Stuffy McInnis in 1921. Youkilis' last error at first was on July 4, 2006 at Tampa Bay...Tavarez lost for the first time in his last eight starts.

06/26 02:42:17 ET