G56: Mariners 1, Red Sox 0

Red Sox  - 000 000 000 - 0  2  1
Mariners - 001 000 00x - 1  5  0

Bedard (7-2-0-3-8, 109) bested Wakefield (8-5-1-0-8, 96) in a quick 2:11 duel.

Betancourt donged to left in the third for the only run of the night. Boston's two hits came in the fourth inning, as Manny and Lowell rapped consecutive one-out singles. Casey followed that outburst with a 1-4-6-3 GIDP.

Facing Putz in the ninth, Manny drew a four-pitch walk with one out. After Lowell hacked on a 1-0 offering and popped out to short, Casey walked. But Crisp looked at two strikes, then grounded weakly to second.

That devilish Tampa team beat the Rangers 5-3, so we drop to 1.5 GB. New York topped Baltimore (our next stop, Friday) 4-2, and remain 6 GB in the cellar.

***

Tim Wakefield (5.19, 83 ERA+) / Erik Bedard (4.70, 84 ERA+)

Tampa battles Kason Gabbard and the Rangers this afternoon (live box). Orioles host the Yankees at 7 PM.