SEATTLE — “The King’s Court” might have to make room for “The Maple Grove.”
Fans of Seattle Mariners pitcher James Paxton have created their own space at the back of the upper deck at Safeco Field, cheering on the left-hander.
Paxton, nicknamed “Big Maple” because of he’s a native of Canada, certainly gave them a show Monday night, pitching seven scoreless innings and striking out 10 batters and the Mariners got a home run from Kyle Seager in a 4-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
Paxton (10-3) allowed four hits and didn’t walk a batter. The 10 strikeouts were a season-high and tied his career-high.
“It’s pretty cool,” Paxton said of his fan club. “They were definitely bringing it tonight with a maple tree out there.”
“The King’s Court” has become a staple in Seattle whenever Felix Hernandez takes the mound, a giant sign adorning the balcony of the upper deck near the left-field foul pole with sections full of fans seated below wearing yellow T-shirts, holding placards and chanting “K” whenever there’s a two-strike count.
“The Maple Grove” has had more humble beginnings. About eight or 10 fans gathered in each of Paxton’s previous two starts at home. There were about 15-20 Monday, complete with signs that read “Eh” instead “K.” And yes, there seemed to be a maple tree, or at least branches from one stuck together, with a cutout of Paxton’s face peeking out from between the leaves.
“I hear them shouting, ‘Eh, Eh,’ ” Paxton said. “It’s cool that it’s something they came up with on their own. That’s the first time with a tree.”
Mariners left fielder Ben Gamel might have well joined the “Grove,” as he didn’t have a ball hit his way all night.
“We were all watching the same game … just lights out,” said Gamel, who went 2-for-3 and scored twice. “I’m glad I’m wearing a Mariner uniform when he’s on the mound, that’s for sure.”
Paxton didn’t allow a baserunner until a one-out single by Boston’s Jackie Bradley Jr. in the fifth inning. Bradley was jammed by an inside pitch and muscled a single into center field.
The Red Sox put two runners on against Paxton in each of the next two innings.
Brock Holt reached on an error by first baseman Danny Valencia with one out in the sixth and Mookie Betts followed with a single to left. But Paxton struck out Andrew Benintendi and Dustin Pedroia to retire the side.
Hanley Ramirez and Bradley opened the sixth with back-to-back singles. Paxton struck out Chris Young, then got Deven Marrero to ground into an inning-ending double play.
In three career starts against the Red Sox, Paxton is 2-0 and has allowed just one run in 23 innings, striking out 18.
“That’s the third time he’s pitched against us and he’s been strong in all three,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “He’s got a good fastball with a downhill plane, the ability to throw a back-door breaking ball to a number of our right-handers for some strikeouts and a cutter to keep guys honest as well.”
Boston’s Eduardo Rodriguez (4-3) took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.
The Mariners took a 3-0 lead in the second inning against Rodriguez.
Seager led off by hitting a 2-1 pitch from the left-hander 415 feet to straightaway center field and over the fence.
With one out, Ben Gamel hit a triple down the right-field line. Guillermo Heredia followed with a chopper to first baseman Ramirez. Gamel broke from third and beat the high throw to the plate from Ramirez.
One out later, Jean Segura drove home the third run with a double to right-center field.
The Mariners tacked on a run in the fourth as Gamel led off with a single and, with two outs, moved to second when Segura was hit by a pitch. Valencia followed with run-scoring double to right.
But the night belonged to Paxton, who became the first Mariners pitcher to win five games in a month since Jason Vargas in 2012.
“He’s on an unbelievable roll,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “He struck out 10 against a team that just doesn’t strike out (very often).
“I thought that was probably his best (start) we’ve seen all year, with the quality of pitches, with all four working.”