Ramirez lifts Red Sox over Mariners

May 4, 2007, 3:05 GMT

Boston, MA - Manny Ramirez hit a pair of homers -- including a solo blast in the eighth that put Boston in front for good -- as the Red Sox edged the Seattle Mariners, 8-7, in a makeup game for an April 12 rainout at Fenway Park.

Ramirez finished with three RBI while Julio Lugo drove in a pair of runs for the Red Sox, who have won three of their last four overall. Daisuke Matsuzaka was roughed up for seven runs over five innings of work, but the bullpen combined for four innings of one-hit ball to pick up the slack. Brendan Donnelly (1-1) got the win, and J.C. Romero entered in the ninth to pick up his first save of the season.

'I thought the timing (of Mannys breakout) was perfect,' said Boston manager Terry Francona. 'The first one he hit didn't end up going out that far but to get it out tonight, some of those balls (the Mariners) hit to center field were crushed. And then the ball he hit to right, the ball was absolutely leaned on. I mean, he hit that ball like a power left-handed hitter. I can see why he admired it.'

Opposing starter Horacio Ramirez had a poor outing as well, yielding seven runs on 11 hits over four innings.

Jose Guillen drove in three runs in a losing effort, and Yuniesky Betancourt added two RBI for Seattle, which opened up an eight-game road swing. The Mariners, who had won three straight heading into this contest, now travel to New York for a four-game set with the Yankees.

'He seemed to have settled down, except that one inning at the end, where he gave up that two-run homer to Manny,' said Seattle manager Mike Hargrove. 'We were hoping that he would settle in but it never happened.'

Seattle owned an early 5-0 lead but both pitchers proved to be equally giving, and the game quickly digressed into a slugfest. When the smoke cleared, the two teams were tied at 7-7 entering the eighth.

Ramirez broke the tie with one swing of the bat, cracking a Chris Reitsma (0-1) offering over the wall in right-center to put Boston in front.

Donnelly allowed the first batter in the top of the ninth to get on, but Romero came in and quickly sat down the Mariners to secure the win.

The Mariners tagged Matsuzaka for five runs in the first to take early command. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Raul Ibanez grounded into a fielder's choice to push the first run across. Richie Sexson was then hit by a pitch to re-load the bases, and Guillen cashed in with a double to score a pair. Kenji Johjima stepped in next and reached on a Lugo error, scoring Sexson. Betancourt capped the rally with a run-scoring single.

The Red Sox countered with seven straight runs, however, to move in front.

Five of those came in the second, beginning with an RBI single by Jason Varitek. Wily Mo Pena followed with a single to load the bases for Dustin Pedroia, who drew a walk to force in a run. Lugo's ground-rule double plated two more, and Ortiz tied the game at 5-5 with a run-scoring single.

Ramirez then belted a two-run homer over the Green Monster in the fourth inning to give his team the lead.

Seattle came right back in the fifth, as RBI singles from Betancourt and Guillen knotted the contest at 7-7.

Game Notes

The Red Sox placed relief pitcher Mike Timlin on the 15-day disabled list because of right shoulder tendinitis. In a corresponding move, Boston recalled right-handed pitcher Devern Hansack from Triple-A Pawtucket...This was the first time Ramirez had faced Boston...The Red Sox now depart for a six-game road trip at Minnesota and Toronto.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

.