Wilyer Abreu, Masataka Yoshida, Dominic Smith and Romy Gonzalez power Red Sox past Mariners 14-7

BOSTON (AP) — Wilyer Abreu capped a 12-pitch at-bat with an RBI single and Masataka Yoshida hit the next pitch for a two-run homer as the Boston Red Sox scored seven runs in the third inning on the way to a 14-7 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.

Yoshida also had a double among his three hits and drove in four runs. Abreu had two RBIs for Boston, which had lost seven of nine games since the All-Star break.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the key to the inning was Jarren Duran hustling to beat out a potential inning-ending, double-play grounder before Abreu's at-bat.

“That changed the game, then Abreu puts on that at-bat,” Cora said. “He beat him with the fastball his first at-bat. He went to the fastball a lot in that one, and Wily just stayed on him. ... That was an awesome at-bat.”

Dominic Smith added a solo homer and two RBIs, Romy Gonzalez hit a pinch-hit two run shot and the Red Sox had a season-high eight doubles.

Nick Pivetta (5-7) struck out 10 and allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh hit solo homers for the Mariners, who had a three-game winning streak halted.

Seattle's Logan Gilbert (6-7) was tagged for seven runs in 2 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old righty had held opponents to one or no earned runs in 11 of his previous 21 starts. Against Boston, his night unraveled quickly with two outs in the third inning.

With a runner on third and two outs after his wild pitch allowed Connor Wong to score the first run, Abreu had fallen into an 0-2 hole before battling back to a full count. He then fouled off five straight pitches before hitting a ground single to right that made it 2-0.

Abreu yelled into the Red Sox dugout as he was running to first.

“I can't really remember a time,” Abreu said through a translator when asked if he was ever that fired up on a single. “It felt really good to win that battle.”

Gilbert thought he had him struck out and the fifth pitch that was called a ball.

“It's tough. It's not the first missed strike ever and it won't be the last, it's part of the game,” Gilbert said. “It just comes down to execution and finding a way out of it. That stuff's going to happen. ... It's a tough game already, it's tougher when you have four outs or an extra strike.”

Yoshida then homered on a 94.6-mph fastball from Gilbert, sending it an estimated 425 feet over the Red Sox bullpen and making it 4-0.

“I think it really comes down to trying to be aggressive on the first pitch,” Yoshida said through a translator.

Rafael Devers doubled, and Tyler O’Neill and Smith had consecutive RBI doubles before Seattle manager Scott Servais lifted Gilbert.

“We had two strikes on Abreu and couldn't get strike 3,'' Servais said. ”To his credit, he had a really good at-bat to finish it off."

Smith homered into the first row of Green Monster seats near the left-field foul pole to make it 11-1 in the fifth.

MAKING MOVES

Seattle made its third significant move ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, acquiring veteran Justin Turner from Toronto in exchange for minor league outfielder RJ Schreck.

Boston acquired right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester from the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor league infielder/outfielder Nick Yorke in an exchange of former first-round draft picks, then optioned Priester (2-6, 5.04 ERA) to Triple-A Worcester.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: C Raleigh was shaken up when he got hit by a foul tip, but he stayed in the game. ... Arozarena hit a side wall in left hard trying to make a catch and came out early, but Servais said he felt alright and would play Tuesday.

Red Sox: 1B Triston Casas is scheduled to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday. He’s been on the IL since mid-April due to a rib strain.

UP NEXT

Mariners: RHP Luis Castillo (8-10, 3.38 ERA) is slated to start the second of the three-game series on Tuesday. He’s 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA in three career starts against the Red Sox. Boston LHP James Paxton (8-2, 4.43) is slated to make his first start since being picked up in a trade with Los Angeles on Friday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena walks past the Green Monster scoreboard during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta tosses the rosin bag after giving up a back-to-back home runs during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez is congratulated after his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh (29) raises a trident while celebrating after his solo home run off Boston Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Boston Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida during the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida watches the flight of his two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu reacts after his RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

While the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar thrill supporters of Saudi clubs, Roberto Mancini is concerned that his national team players aren’t getting enough time in the league to prepare for World Cup qualifying.

Saudi Arabia was among the high-profile Asian teams that struggled in third-round openers last week in continental World Cup qualifying. The Saudis were held 1-1 by Indonesia, the lowest-ranked of the six-teams in Group C. Tuesday is a crucial match against China at Dalian for coach Mancini’s team.

“We have had problems capitalizing on opportunities, which have been evident in the last few games,” Mancini said.

With most clubs in the Saudi Pro League using their full quota of 10 foreign imports, Mancini, who left his job as head coach of Italy a year ago to join Saudi Arabia's national team, has complained that local players are not getting enough action.

“Saudi Arabia’s national team players must participate as core players with their clubs," Mancini said. “I have 20 players sitting on the bench in local matches.”

He said there needed to be greater cooperation between the national team and clubs.

Australia’s attempt to qualify for a sixth successive World Cup tournament was damaged by a shocking 1–0 loss to Bahrain at home.

“It’s a learning curve for the players. It wasn’t our night,” Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said. “You could see physically they were ready for us. These types of things happen in football, it’s how you get over it.”

Australia faces a relatively short trip to Jakarta to face a much-improved Indonesia squad that will be supported by 60,000 fans. “We are not afraid of anyone and we are looking forward to the challenge,” Indonesia coach Shin Tae-yong said.

The early pacesetters in Group C meet when Bahrain hosts Japan, which opened with a thumping 7-0 win over China.

The 18 teams in the third round of qualification have been divided into three groups of six. The top two from each automatically qualify for the World Cup. The teams that place third and fourth will advance to a fourth round to compete for two more places.

In Group B, South Korea also started with a disappointing result, a 0-0 draw with the Palestinian team in Seoul. Led by English Premier League stars Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan as well as Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in, South Korea travels to Muscat to face Oman, which lost 1-0 to Iraq.

Son suggested the poor pitch condition in Seoul was a reason for the result.

“We weren’t able to play at a high tempo and I am sure fans were disappointed with that,” Son said. “The fact that pitch conditions are better for away matches is a shame, but I also think it’s fortunate for us at the same time.”

The Palestinians will play Jordan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as the team is unable to host games at home. Jordan had a 1-1 draw with Kuwait in its opening game a nd now faces Iraq, the only team in the group to win.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

South Korea's Son Heung-min, center, is tackled by Palestine's Michael Termanini during the Asian qualifier group B match for 2026 World Cup between South Korea and Palestine at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Japan's Takumi Minamino and China's Liu Yangyi compete for the ball during a World Cup and AFC Asian Qualifier between Japan and China at Saitama Stadium 2002 in Saitama, north of Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.(AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Japan team celebrate after defeating China after a World Cup and AFC Asian Qualifier between Japan and China at Saitama Stadium 2002 in Saitama, north of Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.(AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

South Korea's Son Heung-min reacts during the Asian qualifier group B match for 2026 World Cup between South Korea and Palestine at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Bahrain's Mahdi Abduljabbar Mahdi Darwish Hasan, front left, competes with Australia's Harry Souttar for a high ball during their World Cup 2026 qualifying match at the Gold Coast, Australia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)

Japan's players celebrate Japan's fourth goal during a World Cup and AFC Asian Qualifier between Japan and China at Saitama Stadium 2002 in Saitama, north of Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.(AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)