Mariners Game Recap: Rangers Outgun M’s, Win 10-4

The Mariners were unable to keep up with Texas tonight, as they dropped their second consecutive game to the AL West leading Rangers.

The Texas Rangers (33-22) dominated the Seattle Mariners (31-24), winning 10-4 on Saturday night at Globe Life Park. The victory means that the Rangers have taken the first two games of the three game weekend set from the Mariners. Martin Perez (4-4, 3.24 ERA) was credited with win for Texas, and Nate Karns (5-2, 4.23 ERA) earned the loss for the M’s.

The Mariners have received spotty starting pitching during the past few games, and tonight was no different. Karns allowed 3 Rangers to cross the plate in the home half of the 1st inning. Jurickson Profar led off the game by doubling to right field, and Ian Desmond followed with a single to put runners on the corners with none out. Nomar Mazara‘s sacrifice fly put Texas on the board. Later in the inning, Rougned Odor singled and then Ryan Rua brought home Desmond and Odor with a double.

Seattle chipped into the Rangers lead in the top of the 2nd. Dae-ho Lee kicked things off with a line-drive single back through the box and into center field. Kyle Seager replaced Lee at first base after grounding into a fielder’s choice, and hustled around to third base on a Chris Iannetta double. Stefen Romero plated the M’s first run of the night, hitting a sac fly to center field to score Seager.

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A pair of walks put Karns and the Mariners in hot water once again in the 2nd inning. The M’s starter issued a 4-pitch leadoff walk to Elvis Andrus. Karns got Bryan Holaday to pop out, but proceeded to walk Profar on 4 pitches. Desmond extended the Rangers lead to 4-2 with an RBI single to left field.

The M’s inched closer in the top of the 3rd. Nelson Cruz made his former club pay, lining an 80 mph curveball over the wall in center field for a solo homer. The Boomstick’s 12th home run of the year trimmed Texas’ lead to 4-2.

Texas regained the momentum in the bottom of the 3rd. After the first two men in the inning failed to reach base, Andrus laced a groundball that hugged the third base line and rolled all the way into the left field corner. The Rangers shortstop ended up at second, and trotted home to score on a Holaday single. The home side held a 5-2 lead after the first 3 innings.

The Mariners scored a run for the third consecutive inning in the top of the 4th. Iannetta got the rally started with a 1-out single into center field. After Romero flied out, Luis Sardinas singled to put runners on the corners with 2 out. Shawn O’Malley came through in the clutch, scoring Iannetta on a single to make it a 5-3 game.

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Karns’ struggles continued in the 5th, as he walked Odor leading off the inning and Ryan Rua followed with a single. Rua’s single chased Karns from the game, and Scott Servais handed the ball off to Vidal Nuno. The southpaw did not fare any better, allowing an RBI single to Mitch Moreland before Andrus muscled up on a 3-run homer.

The Mariners manufactured a run in the top of the 7th inning. Franklin Gutierrez led off the frame by doubling to left field. Guti then advanced to third base on a Robinson Cano fly out, and scored on a Cruz groundout. Midway through the 7th, Seattle trailed 9-4.

The Rangers tacked on an unnecessary insurance run in the 8th. Mazara lined an 89 mph Steve Johnson fastball over the wall in left field for a solo shot. Mazara’s 10th round-tripper of the season gave Texas a 10-4 lead.

Next: M’s Call-up Top Pitching Prospect, Edwin Diaz

Up next, the Seattle Mariners (31-24) will hope to avoid being swept by the first place Texas Rangers (33-22) on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 pm PT from Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX. Hisashi Iwakuma (4-4, 4.41 ERA) will get the ball for the M’s, and Derek Holland (4-4, 4.78 ERA) will be on the bump for the Rangers.