Boston @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( May 15, 2012 ) Seattle 0, Boston 5

David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox are on a tear right now, racing their way out of the basement and up the standings in the American League East. Ortiz went 5-for-8 with three homers and eight runs scored in the just-completed three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Seattle Mariners, who have dropped five of seven, don’t have anyone that has shown an ability to provide that kind of production.

Seattle pitchers only allowed two hits on Wednesday, both just happened to be solo home runs in a 2-1 setback. The Mariners have surrendered an average of 1.6 runs over the last five games but are just 2-3 in that span thanks to a struggling offense. Seattle’s hitters are especially bad at home, batting .202 and averaging 2.9 runs at Safeco Field, where the team has posted a 13-21 record. The Red Sox own the second-best road batting average in the AL and have won five straight series, improving to a season-high five games over .500.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), ROOT (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Franklin Morales (1-1, 3.12 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (5-5, 3.36)

Morales will be making his third straight start for Boston after entering the rotation as an injury replacement. The left-hander picked up a win against Atlanta last Saturday and has recorded 17 strikeouts in 11 total innings over his two starts. Morales has made three relief appearances against Seattle, getting knocked around for three runs and four hits in two innings.

Hernandez has gone seven innings while allowing one run in each of his last two starts. He has 17 strikeouts and two walks in that span. The 26-year old beat San Diego last Saturday to snap a four-start winless streak. Hernandez is 5-2 with a 3.55 ERA in 11 career starts against the Red Sox.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Mariners RHP Kevin Millwood (groin) left Wednesday’s game after 2 1/3 innings, ending the team’s string of four straight quality starts.

2. Ortiz hit his 399th career home run on Wednesday. He is 6-for-23 (.261) with one career homer against Hernandez.

3. Boston signed first-round draft pick Brian Johnson and now has deals in place with each of its first 12 picks.