BOSTON — It was a fitting result to culminate the Mariners’ steady and unimpressive fall to below .500 for the first time this season.
On an unremarkable road trip where they’ve won just twice in eight games, including their most recent loss, a 14-1 drubbing by the Red Sox on Friday night, they’ve now lost more games than they’ve won this season, giving them a record of 20-21.
And from about the third inning on, it was quite apparent that they weren’t going to win the game.
Rookie right-hander Erik Swanson struggled in his first visit to the hitter-friendly confines of Fenway Park, his replacement Anthony Swarzak, who was trying to pitch his way back into relevance in the bullpen, was just as ineffective as were the relievers that followed.