Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Aaron Cook fired his third career shutout and
his first in over three years as the Red Sox blanked the Mariners, 5-0, in the
second installment of a four-game set Friday at Safeco Field.
Cook (2-1) allowed just two hits and struck out two without walking a batter
to earn his first shutout since May 21, 2009 against the Atlanta Braves.
Will Middlebrooks, Cody Ross and Daniel Nava each hit solo home runs in the
fifth inning, while Jarrod Saltalamacchia added a two-run blast in the sixth
to help the Red Sox earn their third win in their last four tries.
Hector Noesi (2-10) was charged for all five runs on seven hits over five-plus
innings of work to absorb the loss. Ichiro Suzuki and John Jaso each singled
to account for the Mariners two hits as they lost for the fourth time in their
last six games.
Boston managed just one hit over the first four frames, but a home run derby
broke out in the top of the fifth inning as the Red Sox grabbed a 3-0 lead.
Middlebrooks and Ross launched back-to-back homers to start the frame before
Nava deposited a solo blast into the right-field seats to cap a three-run
fifth for the visitors.
The offensive outburst continued in the sixth as David Ortiz ripped a leadoff
double and trotted home as Saltalamacchia crushed a two-run shot the opposite
way over the wall in left-center field to make it a 5-0 game.
Suzuki's leadoff single in the fourth gave the Mariners their first hit, but
Cook quickly disposed of him by inducing a double-play ground out from Casper
Wells.
Seattle again put the leadoff man on in the eighth as Jaso singled to start
the frame, but Cook got Justin Smoak to fly out before inducing an inning-
ending double-play from Dustin Ackley.
Game Notes
Cook needed just 81 pitches to complete his shutout, giving him the lowest
pitch count in a complete game in the majors this season. Joe Blanton had held
the lowest pitch count with 88 pitches during his May 3rd shutout of the
Atlanta Braves...Cook has now won two straight starts since coming off the 15-
day disabled list on June 24...Adrian Gonzalez singled in the sixth to extend
his hit-streak to 10 games...Noesi has now lost his last seven decisions.
The Sports Network