SEATTLE (AP) — David Ortiz hit the 449th home run of his career in the first inning, added a line drive RBI single off the wall in the third, and the Boston Red Sox avoided being swept with a 5-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night.
Ortiz plunked a two-run shot off the windows of the cafe in right field at Safeco Field for a 2-0 lead, his 18th of the season. He drove in another run in the third on a line drive that barely cleared the glove of Seattle right fielder Stefan Romero.
Ortiz’s big hits backed the return of Clay Buchholz to the Boston rotation. Buchholz (3-4) was knocked around in the second, giving up home runs to Kyle Seager and Mike Zunino, but otherwise avoided problems. Buchholz retired 11 of 12 during one stretch and pitched out of trouble in the sixth inning when the first two batters reached on singles.