LEADING OFF: King Felix Back for Mariners, Pomeranz Debuts

Last night was a nice win over the Giants, but it was just the beginning of what figures to be a tough stretch for Boston.

The Red Sox showed off their new starting pitcher, but it was their relentless offense and a patchwork bullpen that lifted Boston to an 11-7 win over San Francisco – and first place in the AL East – Wednesday night at Fenway Park.

On Tuesday, the Giants dropped their fourth straight game to open the second half, losing to the Boston Red Sox, 4-0. His last was the most important, stepping on the Giants’ throat after they clawed back to score seven unanswered runs. When we put Pomeranz’s 8-7 record and 2.47 ERA pitching for a last place team under the microscope, we can see all kinds of vulnerability.

Today’s links look at Drew Pomeranz being used to changing teams, whether or not the team should rush Andrew Benintendi, and Clay Buchholz’s realization that he may change uniforms soon. Coupled with the Giants’ loss, San Francisco’s lead in the National League West to 4.5 games, the closest the race has been since early June.

But the Giants’ second-half issues with runners in scoring position could only be remedied briefly. After Ramiro Peña and Denard Span reached base to bring up the tying run with no outs, Angel Pagan, Brandon Belt and Posey couldn’t advance them any further.

San Francisco third baseman Ramiro Pena made a nice play of his own, going back to catch Travis Shaw’s popup in shallow left to end the left inning and save a run.

That was in the first inning and ended a months-long home run drought for Ramirez.

Ramirez’s third homer of the game, a two-run shot to left field, gave the Sox a 10-7 lead and Sandy Leon added an insurance home run to help give Boston its eighth win in nine games. That’s about all you need to know about Cain’s second start since May 27. He dove to his right to stop a line drive in the first inning, and made a play to his right on a hard grounder from Grant Green. He needed 46 to get the next four outs.

It was the first career three-homer performance by Ramirez, who entered the contest with only eight blasts in 85 games this season.

Boston Red Sox’s Hanley Ramirez, right, leaps as he celebrates with David Ortiz on his third, two-run home run of the baseball game against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning at Fenway Park, Wednesday, July 20, 2. That staked Boston to a 5-0 lead, one that continued to grow without Cain on the mound. He allowed five runs on eight hits in 3-plus innings of work.

Ramirez’s first career three-homer game gave him 11 for the season. That swelled the Red Sox’ lead to eight as Jackie Bradley Jr, Sandy Leon, Brock Holt and Mookie Betts ambushed Suarez with three doubles and a triple. That happened in the fourth inning. That was the finishing touch on Suarez’s five-run, three-inning outing.

The final inning for Pomeranz went as such: walk, single, home run, single, home run, single, single.