g28 | Some call him Mr. Fister, some call him Houdini

Mariners 2 | Red Sox 0

MICHAEL DWYER/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Yes indeedy, Doug did his best Houdini impression this evening, multiple times...
He had a 1-2-3 second, but every other inning was a struggle.  The Red Sox loaded the bases TWICE (once with no outs) against Doug and both times he got out of the inning without giving up any runs: in the 1st via a strikeout and a popup and in the 5th via a nifty DP and a foul out.  The DP was a line drive right to Jack who flipped to Brendan to double the runner off second (turns out from the replay he was safe, but considering the earlier bad call from the 1st base ump, described below, we'll take the "make-up").  Doug also escaped the 6th without damage but, not without help.  There were runners at the corners with two outs when Aaron took the mound and got Salty to pop up and Miggy made an awesome catch over the rail and into the stands amid flailing Red Sox fans' hands.

There were a few shenanigans in the top of the 3rd...
Ichiro walked and then Figgy and Milton both doubled getting Ichiro home.  Then Miggy hit a ground ball to 3B, the baseman double clutched to ensure Figgy stayed put at 3B but his hesitation allowed Miggy to make it to 1B safely.  Unfortunately, the umpire had another opinion and called him out.  Eric came out to argue the case and the ump took it pretty well, knowing he was in error.  Then, the next thing we know, Milton is walking toward the dugout.  Apparently he just couldn't leave it be and was tossed for his concern.

MICHAEL DWYER / AP

The defense was a help instead of a hinderance for a change...
All the routine plays were made and some rather special ones as well.  Figgy made an awesome diving catch of a hot shot grounder, checked the runner at 2B and threw to Justin to get the runner a 1B by a step for one of the two DP's.  Justin made a nice catch at the rail, though not as far into the crowd as Miggy's, he had to travel pretty far.

What a relief to have reliable relief!
Aaron got into some trouble of his own in the 7th after a walk and a double left runners at the corners with two outs but, he got out of it via a fly out deep to left.  Then, he cruised through the 8th, retiring the side in order.  Brandon allowed a single to lead off the 9th, but then got a double play and a fly out to close out the game to earn his 7th save, preserve Doug's 2nd win and the team's FIFTH victory in a row (on the road, no less!)

~ By the way, the Red Sox had a double in each of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th innings - but failed to score and it was the first time they have been shut out at home since April 22, 2010 ~