Sexson Gets the Last Word for Mariners
After giving up a tying homer to Boston’s Jason Varitek in the top of the ninth inning, J.J. Putz landed his counter-punch.
Three of them, actually. Directly into the gut of Seattle teammate Richie Sexson.
Sexson was glad to take his buddies’ blows Sunday. They came during a home plate celebration after his game-winning home run off Mike Timlin that aptly finished the Mariners’ wild, 9-8 victory over the Red Sox.
He was just getting over Varitek’s jolting home run -- the second Putz has allowed this season -- and his fourth blown save in 23 chances. Then Sexson supplied his own stunner leading off the bottom of the ninth.
“The coolest thing in baseball is the walk-off home run. The whole team comes out. You get to punch the guy in the stomach,” Putz said. “Yeah, I got in two or three good ones.”
Sexson’s shot off Timlin (5-1) came after Varitek drove Putz’s slider off a second-deck restaurant window. Putz (2-0) had just struck out David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.
Adrian Beltre hit the first inside-the-park homer at Safeco Field off Timlin in the eighth.
More to Read
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.