Red Sox starter Josh Beckett (9-5) had not allowed five runs in the first inning all season. The Mariners had that many six batters into the game.
Ichiro Suzuki hit the first pitch from Beckett into the right-field stands for his second home run of the season. Franklin Gutierrez followed with a single and Dustin Ackley with a double.
Rookie Mike Carp extended his hit streak to 13 games with a two-run single to center. With two outs, rookie Casper Wells homered to left.
“Left pitches up, they got hit,’’ said Beckett, who was still angry after showering. “It’s tough whenever you’re facing a guy like [Hernandez]. The game could very easily have been over before the second inning.’’
Beckett did not allow another run, leaving after five innings and 99 pitches. He gave up eight hits, waked one, and struck out six.
The Sox had a chance to get back in the game in the fourth inning when Jacoby Ellsbury walked and Carl Crawford reached on an infield single.
Adrian Gonzalez grounded to first base, advancing the runners. Dustin Pedroia, hitting cleanup in place of Kevin Youkilis (stiff back), followed with a fly ball to right field.
Ellsbury tagged up, but the throw from Ichiro beat him to the plate. As Ellsbury slid, his left knee came up and crashed into the face of catcher Josh Bard.
As Bard fell on his back, umpire Mark Ripperger called Ellsbury safe.
The umpires then gathered and changed the call of Ripperger, a minor league fill-in. Red Sox manager Terry Francona emerged from the dugout to argue and was ejected.
When Ripperger tossed Francona, Francona made the same motion as through he were ejecting the umpire.
“I wasn’t in a real good listening mode,’’ Francona said. “I didn’t understand why the home plate umpire didn’t explain it to me. They knew I was going to get thrown out. Sometimes that’s the way it goes.’’
Ellsbury acknowledged that the umpires did get the call right and that he was out.
The Sox did get back in the game in the sixth inning.
