Boston @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 5, 2009 ) Seattle 4, Boston 8

Adrian Beltre returns to Seattle for the first time Thursday since signing a contract with Boston in January as the Red Sox and Mariners open a four-game series.

Safeco Field was never kind to Beltre during his five-year career in Seattle. All-time, he is hitting a pedestrian .252 with an on-base percentage of .305 at the Mariners' home park.

Beltre has thrived in his first season with Boston, batting .339 with 16 home runs and a team-high 61 RBIs. The third baseman chewed up the Oakland Athletics in a three-game series, going 8-for-13 with two homers. He has four homers in his last nine games.

Beltre’s Red Sox have faded in the American League East race, losing 10 of 14 games to fall seven games behind first-place New York and 4 1/2 games behind wild-card leader Tampa Bay.

Seattle faded weeks ago, but managed to avoid a sweep by the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night with a 2-1 win in 11 innings.

For Thursday's opener, Boston will go with right-hander John Lackey (9-5, 4.65 ERA), who has won five consecutive starts in Seattle, posting a 1.78 ERA.

Lackey has had a rough season for the most part, but he allowed only two runs in seven innings and earned the win in Boston’s 3-2, 11-inning win over Texas on Saturday.

Seattle starts left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith, who is 1-9 with a 6.18 ERA. Rowland-Smith was able to get a no-decision in his last start, a 7-6 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, despite allowing five runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Rowland-Smith has never started against the Red Sox, but has a 2.70 ERA in seven relief appearances.

After Wednesday’s loss, the Red Sox optioned Daniel Nava to Triple-A Pawtucket to make a roster spot for outfielder Jeremy Hermida, who was out six weeks with cracked ribs. Nava gained instant fame by hitting a grand slam on his first major-league pitch June 12. That was his only homer with the Red Sox.