BOSTON (AP) — Seattle manager Scott Servais turned to what he called a rested bullpen before the game.
It didn’t take long for the lead to be gone.
Mookie Betts hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning off Edwin Diaz after Boston tied it an inning earlier, and the Red Sox beat the Mariners 2-1 on Sunday.
Seattle starter Taijuan Walker kept the majors’ top scoring team off the scoreboard over five innings after leaving his previous start with a strained tendon in his right foot.
But the 23-year-old righty was lifted when it bothered him again after throwing 88 pitches, and Boston tied it at 1-1 in the sixth against Vidal Nuno on Hanley Ramirez’s fielder’s choice grounder.
“I would like to have kept riding him because he was getting them out, but the information I got and everybody thought it would be best to get him out at that point,” Servais said. “It was tough. It was a tough game, tight game and he was getting them out, but it was bothering him.”
Walker didn’t expect it to flare up after he warmed prior to the game.
“No, it felt really good, even in the bullpen it felt really good,” he said. “But I think just going out there and the extra intensity, really getting after it and pushing off (bothered it).”
Franklin Gutierrez hit a solo homer for the Mariners. He sparked their series-opening victory with two homers and six RBIs.
Betts also had two singles for Boston, which won its second straight after losing four of five.
David Price (8-4) gave up one run on eight hits in eight sharp innings, striking out seven without issuing a walk. He fanned his final two batters before Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth for his 16th save.
“He threw the ball really well, kept us off balance all day,” Servais said.
Price was rarely in trouble, but his teammates had difficulty scoring for him again. In his previous three starts, they had just five total runs.
The lefty got just enough support when Betts led off the seventh by hitting a fastball from Diaz (0-1) into the Green Monster seats.
Servais said before the game that he didn’t think Walker would be 100 percent, but hoped the adrenaline of starting would negate any lingering problem.
Gutierrez led off the fourth with a line drive that snuck inside the Pesky Pole in right.
Ramirez’s bouncer scored Xander Bogaerts after he singled and advanced to third on David Ortiz’s single.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: Servais said RHP Felix Hernandez (strained right calf, DL since June 1) “will start throwing or playing catch Tuesday or Wednesday. The inflammation has calmed down.” Servais also said that LHP Wade Miley, who went on the DL Friday with a left shoulder impingement, will be ready when available to come off.
Red Sox: Manager John Farrell said utility player Brock Holt (concussion) was going to be reevaluated Sunday after having “three good days” of field work and “hopefully he’s turning that long and rounded corner to get on a rehab assignment.”
THAT’S A BREAK
Catcher Chris Iannetta and 3B Kyle Seager had Jackie Bradley Jr.’s high pop fall between them, but roll foul.
SECOND CHANCE
A male fan sitting in a club seat in the middle level dropped a foul ball by Bogaerts and then caught one on the next pitch.
TAKE THAT
Ortiz was intentionally walked with nobody on in the seventh and stole second one pitch later, with the crowd roaring as he slid in without a throw.
UP NEXT
Mariners: RHP Nathan Karns (5-2, 4.06 ERA) is set to start Monday when they open a four-game series against Detroit’s struggling RHP Mike Pelfrey (1-7, 4.79).
Red Sox: Knuckleballer Steven Wright (8-4, AL-best 2.22 ERA) looks to continue his solid season Monday against the Chicago White Sox and RHP Miguel Gonzalez (1-2, 4.74) in the first of four games at Fenway Park.
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