Kyle Seager’s recent slump is now a memory, and Chris Flexen continues to redefine his best outing as a member of the Mariners with each start as they cruised to an easy 8-2 rout of the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park
Facing a Red Sox lineup that came into the game averaging 5.33 runs per game and featured a .283 team batting average and .809 on-base plus slugging percentage — all the highest in the American League — Flexen delivered a brilliant outing, pitching seven innings and allowing one run on four hits with a walk and a career-high seven strikeouts.
Seager collected three hits in his first three plate appearances — an RBI single, a two-run triple and a double — to lead an offense that banged around Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi early and finished with 12 hits, including five extra-base hits.
Following the first game of the series in Boston on Thursday, Seager had just two hits in 30 plate appearances. But he had two hits, including a three-run homer in Friday’s loss. He has five hits and seven RBIs in his last two games. Seager is also hitting .625 with runners in scoring position.
Sam Haggerty, who made the start in left field, also had three hits and two RBIs, including a solo homer over the green monster in the eighth inning.
With the win, the Mariners improved to 13-8.
Relying heavily on his cut fastball (cutter) and fastball for 60 of his 88 pitches and sprinkling in just enough curveballs and change-ups to keep hitters off balance, Flexen generated 17 swings and misses on pitches.
His only run allowed came in his last inning. He allowed a two-run double to Rafael Devers, who later scored on Marwin Gonzalez’s RBI single. Over the first six innings, Flexen allowed just two hits.
