Boston Red Sox defeat Seattle Mariners, 5-3

SEATTLE - Russell Branyan stood on third, with one run in and no outs. The Sox were in danger of losing a four-run lead yet again. It had already happened twice before on this road trip, both times ending in a loss. And Josh Beckett still needed three outs, without allowing the first baseman to travel just 90 feet.

So the Sox moved in, playing a medium-depth in the infield for Wladimir Balentien. Then the player who had allowed Adrian Beltre to get to first and subseque...