Betts homers in 9th, Kimbrel saves in return for Red Sox

SEATTLE (AP) Mookie Betts homered to lead off the ninth inning, Craig Kimbrel got his 18th save in his return from knee surgery and the Boston Red Sox beat James Paxton and the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Monday night.

Paxton held Boston to a run and four hits over eight innings before Betts hit his 22nd homer off closer Steve Cishek (2-6), who blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning Sunday against Chicago.

Kimbrel made his first appearance since having surgery to repair a medial meniscus tear in his left knee. He allowed a walk, and Kyle Seager reached on a third-strike wild pitch, but Kimbrel got two other strikeouts to end it.

Aaron Hill homered off Paxton in the eighth to tie the game 1-1.

Junichi Tazawa (2-1) got the win with a scoreless eighth after Eduardo Rodriguez held Seattle to a run and three hits over 6 1/3 innings.