Seattle, WA – David Ortiz belted a two-run homer during a 2-for-3 night to become the all-time leader in hits by a designated hitter, as the Boston Red Sox routed the Seattle Mariners, 11-4, in the third test of a four-game series at Safeco Field.
Ortiz registered four hits in Tuesday's 11-8 victory to tie Harold Baines for the most hits in major league history by a DH before ripping a double in his first at-bat Wednesday to take sole possession of first place with 1,689 hits.
The lefty slugger finished with three RBI and two runs scored, while Shane Victorino recorded two RBI and Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hit-streak to 18 games with a trio of hits for the Red Sox, who have won back-to-back games since dropping Monday's series opener.
With the offense churning on all cylinders, Boston starter Felix Doubront (6-3) stifled Seattle for much of the night, scattering five hits and two walks while striking out six over seven stellar innings of one-run ball.
"He had this game under control," Boston manager John Farrell said of Doubront. "We are able to put some runs up on the board and once again he didn't go out and chance his approach despite having a sizeable lead."
Seattle starter Aaron Harang (4-8) had a forgettable outing, surrendering seven runs on eight hits and three walks over five-plus frames to absorb the loss.
"They made me work," Harang said of the Red Sox. "I was falling behind in the count early on and you can't do that with a lineup like that."
Brendan Ryan smacked a solo shot, while Kendrys Morales and Justin Smoak added an RBI double apiece for the Mariners.
Ortiz's record-breaking hit came in the second, as he scorched a double into the gap in left-center field to get the Red Sox started.
After Mike Napoli worked a walk and Daniel Nava was hit by a pitch, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jose Iglesias smacked consecutive sacrifice flies to plate a pair of runs.
Boston doubled its edge in the third when Dustin Pedroia worked a two-out walk and Ortiz followed with a drive into the seats in right-center field.
The Red Sox added another two-out run in the fourth, as Ellsbury stroked a double off the wall in center before coming around to score on Victorino's single to left to push the margin to 5-0.
Boston tacked on four more runs in the sixth to put the game away, as Saltalamacchia and Iglesias smacked consecutive singles to start the frame and end Harang's outing.
Lucas Luetge entered and got Brock Holt to ground into a fielder's choice, but Ellsbury and Victorino followed with back-to-back run-scoring singles to extend Boston's cushion to 7-0.
Pedroia then grounded one to shortstop Brad Miller, who tried to flip to second for an out, but his toss evaded second baseman Dustin Ackley and trickled toward the outfield grass, allowing Ellsbury to score from second.
Ortiz's sac fly to center scored Victorino for a 9-0 lead.
Seattle finally cracked the scoreboard in the seventh when Jason Bay smacked a leadoff double, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on Henry Blanco's two-out base hit to center.
Ryan launched a leadoff blast off Brandon Workman in the eighth before Ackley and Morales clubbed consecutive doubles to bring the Mariners within 9-3.
After Workman lined out Kyle Seager and fanned Bay, Smoak scorched a double to left-center to plate Morales and trim the deficit to 9-4.
The Red Sox responded with two runs in the ninth to account for the final margin. Nava worked a leadoff walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Mike Carp singled home Saltalamacchia.
Game Notes
Workman made his major league debut in the eighth and allowed three runs on four hits while striking out four in two innings ... Doubront has given up three earned runs or fewer in a career-high 11 straight starts since May 16 ... The Mariners have hit at least one homer in 18 straight games, the longest such stretch since running off 18 straight from Sept. 9-29, 2012 ... Seattle went 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base.
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