Woodward’s single lifts Mariners to 3-2 win over Red Sox

Mariners get second straight late win beat Red Sox

BOSTON — Chris Woodward’s bases-loaded pop up in the ninth inning dropped behind a partially draw-in infield to score the go-ahead run and lift the Seattle Mariners to a 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

Jason Varitek hit a two-run homer for Boston, which also lost Friday’s series opener. The Red Sox had won their previous seven series overall. It was just their third series loss in their last 12 in Fenway Park.

Russell Branyan drove in the other two runs for the Mariners.

Seattle capitalized on Takashi Saito’s wildness for the winning rally. Saito (2-2) walked the bases loaded with one out before Woodward’s pop fell behind first baseman Mark Kotsay and second baseman Dustin Pedroia’s diving bid, scoring pinch runner Wladimir Balentien from third easily.

Roy Corcoran (2-0) worked 1 2-3 innings of hitless relief and David Aardsma got the final three outs for his 17th save.

Varitek homered over the Green Monster after Rocco Baldelli walked to give Boston a 2-0 lead in the second.

Seattle scored runs in the third and fifth to tie it at 2.

Branyan doubled into the left-field corner to score Ichiro Suzuki, who singled leading off the third.

Chris Woodward opened the fifth with a single, advanced to second on Ronny Cedeno’s bunt single, moved up on Suzuki’s line to right and scored on Branyan’s sacrifice fly.

Jacoby Ellsbury stole his 35th base, becoming the first Red Sox player to reach that mark in consecutive years since Tris Speaker from 1912-14. He also became the first AL player to do it in consecutive years before the All-Star break since soon-to-be 2009 Hall of Fame inductee Rickey Henderson did it in 1988-90.

Boston starter Brad Penny gave up two runs, six hits, struck out six and walked one in six innings. He’s winless in six of his last seven outings.

Seattle’s Garrett Olson allowed two runs on fours hits, striking out five and walking four in 6 1-3 innings.

Olson escaped a first-and-third no out jam in the sixth when he caught off third Baldelli on Ellsbury’s grounder back to the mound. Jeff Bailey then bounced into a double play.

NOTES: Boston manager Terry Francona rested DH David Ortiz and inserted Baldelli into his spot with the left-handed Olson starting. … Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu said before the game that Ardsma “feels some tightness” in his back and LHP Erik Bedard, on the 15-day DL since June 8 with shoulder inflammation, is set to start Tuesday against Baltimore. Bedard threw 54 pitches in a simulated game Friday. … Red Sox C Varitek wore a red-white-and-blue chest protector that he will auction for charity.