Boston: The slumping Seattle Mariners edged closer to matching an unwanted team record with a 7-4 defeat against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday.
The 13-game winless run is just one shy of the team record set in 1992 and while the Red Sox continue to surge in the opposite direction, Seattle appear at a loss as to how they can arrest their slide.
"I can't believe it," Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan told reporters. "First time this season I'm probably speechless. It's embarrassing. It's certainly not fun. I don't know what to say. It's tiring."
Meanwhile, the Red Sox (60-37) are 14-3 in July and have won seven consecutive games at Fenway Park.
Tight duel
Boston's starter John Lackey was involved in a tight duel with reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez until the Red Sox scored five runs in the seventh inning to open a 7-1 lead.
Ichiro Suzuki had staked the Mariners to a 1-0 first inning lead, however, the Red Sox responded with a run by Dustin Pedroia in the bottom of the frame and Jacoby Ellsbury's solo homer in the third gave Boston a 2-1 advantage.
"When you're feeling good at the plate, you just want to get a pitch you can drive; you can't miss it," Ellsbury said. "It felt good leaving the bat. I knew it was gone when I hit it. I've hit some balls hard, but that felt good."
Lackey allowed one run on eight hits while striking out four in seven innings. Hernandez gave up six runs, including four in the seventh, on 11 hits while striking out two and walking four in 6 1/3 innings.
The Mariners (43-56) turned four double plays in support of Hernandez to keep the game close through the middle innings but were unable to prevent the blowout in the seventh.
