SEATTLE -- In a pitcher's duel, one mistake can cost you the game. Thursday night, it happened to Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
In a scoreless tie in the bottom of the ninth, Saltalamacchia dropped a strike from right fielder Cody Ross, who was attempting to throw out Casper Wells at the plate.
Pinch-hitter John Jaso laced a single to right with one out. Ross's throw arrived in time, but the ball fell out of Saltalamacchia's glove as he attempted to apply a swipe tag to Wells, giving the Seattle Mariners a 1-0 victory.
Felix Hernandez got the win for the Mariners, striking out 13 and allowing just five hits. He had to work out of a first-and-second, one-out jam in the top of the ninth to keep the game scoreless. He left after throwing 128 pitches, a career high.
Starter Franklin Morales was brilliant in his third spot start, shutting out the Mariners over seven innings, allowing only three hits while striking out seven and walking two.
STAR OF THE GAME: Felix HernandezIt's hard to imagine a pitcher throwing better than the complete game shutout turned in by the Mariners' ace Thursday. Hernandez went nine innings, struck out 13, walked just one and allowed five hits -- all singles.
HONORABLE MENTION: Franklin MoralesMorales was nearly as good as Hernandez, keeping the Mariners scoreless through seven while throwing 109 pitches, the second-highest total of his career. It's hard to believe that, just two weeks ago, Morales was pitching in middle relief.
GOAT OF THE GAME: Scott AtchisonAtchison gave up a one-out double to Casper Wells and it came back to bite him when Wells scored the only run of the game on a single to right by pinch-hitter John Jaso.
TURNING POINT: The Sox had runners at first and second with one out in the ninth, but couldn't push a run home against Hernandez. Adrian Gonzalez battled him on a nine pitch at-bat, but ultimately flied out to center.
BY THE NUMBERS: The Red Sox, who didn't have a homer, are 5-20 when they don't hit one.
QUOTE OF NOTE: "That was King Franklin against King Felix tonight.'' --Adrian Gonzalez on the pitching duel.