Seattle, WA (AP) -- Mike Lowell hit a two-run single off Sean Green in the 12th inning, and the Red Sox took advantage of two outfield errors to beat the lowly Mariners 6-3 on Wednesday and complete Boston's first series sweep at Seattle in 15 years.
The Red Sox entered the series having lost eight of 11 on the road, leaving manager Terry Francona to say he was perplexed. They flew home for a weekend against the surging New York Yankees after their first three-game sweep on the road this season.
Boston stayed a half-game behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.
Raul Ibanez and Jose Vidro hit home runs for Seattle, which lost its fifth consecutive game. The Mariners expected to be in the postseason but sunk a season-low 25 games under .500, and are in clearance-sale mode for the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline. Ibanez and Vidro are top candidates to go.
Jacoby Ellsbury began the 12th with his fourth hit in 34 at-bats, a single off Green (2-3). A hit-and-run groundout by Dustin Pedroia got Ellsbury to second before Green intentionally walked J.D. Drew.
Kevin Youkilis then hit a liner that center fielder Willie Bloomquist sprinted deep for but had clang off the inside of his glove. The error loaded the bases, and Lowell unloaded them with his second hit of the game. Sean Casey, starting at designated hitter because Manny Ramirez was out with a sore knee, singled home Youkilis to make it 6-3.
Jonathan Papelbon (4-3), pitching a third consecutive day for the second time this season, created a jam in the 11th by flubbing a pickup of Vidro's leadoff squibber down the first-base line for a generously scored infield single. One out later, Vidro went to third on a single with two strikes by Yuniesky Betancourt.
But Papelbon got fading Kenji Johjima to ground into a double play to end that threat.
Craig Hansen allowed Seattle to load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the 12th but retired Vidro on a ground out for his second save in four chances.
Boston could have ended it far earlier.
It had the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth against Felix Hernandez before Seattle's 22-year-old ace struck out Jed Lowrie and Jason Varitek. But Hernandez then walked Coco Crisp, the No. 9 hitter, on four pitches to force in Youkilis and give the Red Sox a 3-1 lead.
Hernandez yelled at himself and slapped at the ball with his glove after his season high-tying fifth walk, then stomped angrily off the field when Ellsbury fouled out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Clay Buchholz gave up a leadoff single to Jose Lopez and one out later fell behind Vidro 2-0. The weakest-hitting designated hitter in the league this season, batting .223 entering Wednesday, drove the next pitch over the railing of the right-field wall to tie the game. Hernandez rose from his seat in the dugout and exhorted the ball out with both arms extended, then celebrated avoiding his seventh loss in 14 decisions.
Buchholz allowed seven hits and three runs in 5 1-3 innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts. He hasn't won since May 2.
Hernandez allowed six hits and two earned runs in six innings. He struck out six in his third start since returning from being on the disabled list for a sprained left ankle.
The game was scoreless in the third when Ichiro Suzuki sprinted with his back to the plate and leaped above the right-field wall to take a three-run homer away from Drew.
A few pitches later, Seattle's perennial Gold Glove outfielder kicked Youkilis' RBI single into the corner. His second error of the season scored Pedroia behind Crisp to make it 2-0.
Notes:@ Boston's last sweep at Seattle was July 2-4, 1993. ... Hernandez has allowed three earned runs or less in eight consecutive starts. He is on pace to finish with the third-lowest ERA in Mariners' history, and lowest since Randy Johnson's team-record 2.30 in 1997.
2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Mark Recchi has agreed to stay with the Boston Bruins.
The NHL's sixth leading active goal scorer has agreed to a one-year deal, a person familiar with the negotiations said Thursday on condition of anonymity because final details were still being worked out. The club had no comment.
The Boston Bruins picked right wing Jordan Caron with the 25th overall selection in the NHL draft Friday night.
Caron, 18, had 36 goals with 31 assists last year in junior hockey in Quebec for Rimouski. He is 6-foot-2 and 199 pounds.
Caron led his team in scoring last season over 56 regular-season games, and ranked 11th in the league in scoring.
The Boston Bruins are trying to move up from the 25th pick in the NHL draft to take a particular player they like.
That player is not among a group of about four in the draft who are ready to play next season, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said Tuesday.
The 2008-2009 Boston Bruins may have disappointed themselves and their fans with a Conference semi-final exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but their regular season accomplishments did not go unnoticed as three members of the organization copped awards at the NHL Awards dinner in Las Vegas Thursday night.
The Boston Bruins have signed general manager Peter Chiarelli to a contract extension, rewarding the architect who built the team with the second-best record in the NHL last season.
2009 05 31 Red Sox 8, Blue Jays 2: Dustin Pedroia
Red Sox 2nd baseman Dustin Pedroia with WBZ's Jon Miller following the team's 8-2 win over the Blue Jays in Toronto. Pedroia hit his 2nd home run of the season, a 3-run line drive into the left field foul pole.
Papelbon on Ramirez Suspension
Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon with WBZ's Jon Miller on the announced 50-game suspension of current Dodger and former Red Sox teammate Manny Ramirez for using a performance-enhancing drug.
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Jacoby Ellsbury began the 12th with his fourth hit in 34 at-bats, a single off Green (2-3). A hit-and-run groundout by Dustin Pedroia got Ellsbury to second before Green intentionally walked J.D. Drew.
