SEATTLE — Little-used Blake Swihart started at first base in place of Mitch Moreland for the Red Sox in Saturday’s 1-0 loss against the Seattle Mariners and lefthander Wade LeBlanc.

“He’s needs at-bats, too,’’ manager Alex Cora said before Swihart was 0 for 2. He is down to .152 for the season.

Moreland hit for Swihart in the eighth inning and popped out to third base with a runner on first.

The lineup switch, which was only temporary, was less about Swihart and more about the slump Moreland is in.

Moreland hit .310 with a .992 OPS over 11 games after the Red Sox dropped Hanley Ramirez off the roster on May 25. Moreland had seven extra-base hits and eight RBIs in that stretch.

In the 10 games he has played since, Moreland is 3 of 32 with one extra-base hit and one RBI. Cora plans to start him Sunday against Seattle righthander Mike Leake.

The Red Sox made a commitment to using Moreland as essentially an everyday player when they dumped Ramirez. But since joining the Red Sox last season, the 32-year-old Moreland has been at his best when used judiciously.

“We have to make sure I don’t run him down into the ground,’’ Cora said. “That’s very important. I make a point of doing it with everybody, but with him it’s very important.

“Even before the decision we made [with Ramirez] we were talking about [how] he’s a very important piece of what we’re trying to accomplish. Not only offensively but defensively and what he brings in the clubhouse.’’

Moreland has hit .227 with a .701 OPS against lefthanders this season. He is 4 of 20 with seven strikeouts since Ramirez was let go.

Cora believes Moreland is trying too hard to pull the ball to right field against lefthanders instead of staying up the middle.

“Something he wasn’t doing early in the season. I think it’s mechanics,’’ Cora said. “He’s coming off his back leg a little more than usual. You’ve seen a few line drives, but actually he hasn’t impacted the ball.

“That’s something we want him to do, stay to right-center. If he does that fine, he’s fine.’’

Without Ramirez, the Red Sox do not have a righthanded-hitting first baseman unless you count Swihart or Brock Holt. Saturday was the second time in his career Swihart has started at first base. Holt has 15 career starts at first, two since 2015.

The Red Sox have Sam Travis and Adam Lind in Triple A Pawtucket. But neither player has made a good case for a roster spot.

Travis was 2 for 12 in four appearances with the major league team earlier this season. In his career, Travis has a .631 OPS in the majors and has not homered in 88 at-bats. He also has struggled at Pawtucket this season.

The 34-year-old Lind has hit .226 in 14 games for the PawSox with a .658 OPS. The Yankees released him out of their system earlier this season. Lind has four home runs in 111 Triple A at-bats in all.

“We’re good with [Swihart]. We’re giving it a shot,’’ Cora said.

Disastrous deal

The Red Sox and Mariners made quite a doomed trade on Dec. 7, 2015.

The Sox sent righthander Jonathan Aro and lefthander Wade Miley to the Mariners for righty Carson Smith and lefty Roenis Elias.

The idea was that the Red Sox would get a setup man [Smith] and the Mariners a starter [Miley]. Aro and Elias were throw-ins.

Smith pitched only 29 games for the Red Sox. He had elbow surgery in 2016 and season-ending shoulder surgery last week. It’s doubtful he returns to the organization.

Miley had a 4.98 ERA in 19 starts for the Mariners then was traded to Baltimore for reliever Ariel Miranda, who is now in Triple A.

Aro pitched in one game for Seattle and was suspended for violating the minor league drug policy. He is now in the Padres system.

Elias, who started 49 games in two seasons for Seattle, appeared in only four games for the Red Sox from 2016-17 and was traded back to Seattle on April 23.

Through Friday, Elias had appeared in three games for the Mariners in relief and pitched well. So the Mariners could extract some value from a deal that so far did not benefit either team.

“I’m glad I’m back here,’’ Elias said. “This is a good place for me.’’

Not giving up

Ichiro Suzuki was 9 of 44 (.205) with no extra-base hits in 15 games for Seattle this season before it was mutually decided on May 3 that he would be dropped off the roster and become a special assistant to team chairman John Stanton.

But Ichiro’s role has not changed much beyond his roster status. He still goes on the road with the team, stretches before games, takes batting practice, and works out in the outfield.

Ichiro even hits during games to stay sharp and still has his locker in the Safeco Field clubhouse.

Ichiro cannot be in the dugout for games. But it’s not unusual to see him on the field after victories congratulating his former teammates.

MLB rules would not allow Ichiro to rejoin the Mariners this season, although he could join another team.

It’s widely understood around the Mariners that Suzuki has not retired from playing at 44. His intention is to make the team out of spring training in 2019.

Seattle is scheduled to play two exhibition games against Japanese teams next March 17-18 then play a two-game series against Oakland at the Tokyo Dome March 20-21.

The Mariners and Athletics will be allowed 28-man rosters for those games, so Ichiro could yet add to his 3,089 career hits.

On the run

Rafael Devers had one stolen base in two attempts in his first 62 games this season. Then he had three successful steals in the seven games since. “He’s a good runner. He’s not slow,’’ Cora said. “We pick our spots with him. They’re going to start paying attention now.’’ . . . The Red Sox have a day off Monday and will leave their rotation in order. So Chris Sale, David Price, and Rick Porcello will face the Twins in Minnesota . . . Drew Pomeranz, who played catch Friday, still has a stiff neck. He’ll try it again Sunday . . . The Red Sox and other teams will wear uniforms with light-blue accents Sunday, part of the yearly Father’s Day campaign to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer. Along with their caps and jerseys, players can chose to wear light blue wristbands, socks, cleats, batting gloves, elbow, leg or wrist guards, and catcher’s equipment.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @peteabe.