Kendrys Morales Leads Mariners Home Run Derby, Top Rangers

Just hours after Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington resigned abruptly, the Seattle Mariners hit four homers and handed the Rangers their 7th straight loss, 7-5 at the Ballpark at Arlington.

The Mariners have now won four straight after dropping five of their last seven, and have regained the 2nd AL wild-card spot by a half game over the Detroit Tigers.

Kendrys Morales hit a two-run homer in the 4th inning to get the Mariners on the board. After the Rangers got one back in the bottom half, Mike Zunino and Brad Miller both homered to put the M’s up 5-1.

Zunino’s homer was his 20th of the season, making him the first catcher in Seattle history to have 20 homers in a season – breaking Miguel Olivo‘s mark of 19 in 2011.

Morales added another two-run homer in the 6th, and it would prove to be the game-winner.

Hisashi Iwakuma pitched just 5.1 IP, but got the win. He allowed seven hits and three runs walking just one and striking out five. Six relievers were used to finish the win, including Fernando Rodney, who allowed a run in the 9th to make it 7-5 but closed it out for his 42nd save of the season.

Endy Chavez left the game in the fifth inning after getting a cut above his left eye, sliding headfirst into second base on a successful steal. His helmet appeared to be the culprit when it came off just as his head collided with the left knee of Texas SS Luis Sardinas. Chavez got three stitches and was not diagnosed with a concussion and is expected to be available Saturday.

The Mariners are now just two games back of the free-falling Oakland Athletics for the first wild-card spot and second place in the AL West.

Dallas native Chris Young toes the slab for the M’s today against his former club.

BOX SCORE

Batting

Seattle

Batting

2B – A Jackson (30, A Claudio); J Jones (9, N Cotts)

HR – K Morales 2 (6, 2nd inning off S Baker 1 on, 0 Out, 6th inning off S Tolleson 1 on, 1 Out), M Zunino (20, 5th inning off S Baker 0 on, 1 Out), B Miller (10, 5th inning off S Baker 1 on, 1 Out)

RBI – K Morales 4 (39), M Zunino (49), B Miller 2 (33)

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – D Ackley 1, R Cano 1

Team LOB – 4

Running

SB – E Chavez (5, 2nd base off S Baker/T Telis), J Jones (23, 3rd base off N Cotts/T Telis)

Fielding

E – B Miller (16, field)

DP – 2 (R Cano-B Miller-L Morrison, B Miller-R Cano-L Morrison)

Texas

Batting

2B – L Martin (12, F Rodney)

HR – A Rosales (4, 6th inning off B Maurer 1 on, 2 Out)

RBI – R Odor (37), A Rosales 2 (17)

2-out RBI – R Odor, A Rosales 2

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – T Telis 1, R Rua 1, A Rosales 1

GIDP – E Andrus, M Choice

Team LOB – 9

Running

SB – A Rosales (2, 2nd base off Y Medina/M Zunino)

Pitching

Seattle

Texas

WP – F Rodney

HBP – L Morrison (by R Mendez)

Pitches-strikes – H Iwakuma 84-61; C Furbush 9-6; B Maurer 14-9; J Beimel 7-5; T Wilhelmsen 16-10; Y Medina 16-8; F Rodney 19-12; S Baker 68-46; S Tolleson 28-16; A Claudio 17-9; R Mendez 17-8; N Cotts 10-7

Ground balls-fly balls – H Iwakuma 10-1; C Furbush 1-0; B Maurer 1-1; J Beimel 1-0; T Wilhelmsen 2-1; Y Medina 1-1; F Rodney 2-1; S Baker 3-7; S Tolleson 3-2; A Claudio 0-0; R Mendez 2-0; N Cotts 1-1

Batters faced – H Iwakuma 23; C Furbush 1; B Maurer 3; J Beimel 1; T Wilhelmsen 4; Y Medina 4; F Rodney 5; S Baker 18; S Tolleson 7; A Claudio 4; R Mendez 5; N Cotts 4

Game Details

Game Time: 3:27.

Umpires: HP–Paul Nauert. 1B–Larry Vanover. 2B–Angel Hernandez. 3B–Vic Carapazza.

Weather: 95 degrees, Mildly Cloudy.

Wind: 8 mph, In From Right.

Attendance: 23,428.