Mariners 8, Rangers 3
ARLINGTON, Texas, Jul 15 — Corey Seager and company couldn’t come up with an answer on Friday night, as fans at Globe Life Field watched the Seattle Mariners power past the Texas Rangers by a final score of 8–3. With this loss, the Rangers are now 2–6 against the Mariners on the year. The Mariners, meanwhile have won 12 straight games. The third game in this series is set for Saturday afternoon. Righty Logan Gilbert (10–3, 2.80 ERA) will toe the slab for Seattle. Righty Spencer Howard (1–1, 8.04 ERA) will start for the Rangers.
Mariners Strike First
This contest would stay scoreless until the top of the fourth inning. Mariners second baseman Adam Frazier made it 1–0 on a single to left field that drove in Eugenio Suarez. Moments later, a fielding error by Rangers third baseman Charlie Culberson allowed Justin Upton to reach base, and it also brought Cal Raleigh in to score. Later in the inning, the Mariners made it 3–0 on an RBI single by Julio Rodriguez. Frazier was able to score easily on the play. Furthermore, a sacrifice fly by Suarez allowed Ty France to score in the top of the fifth inning. The score was now 4–0 in favor of Seattle.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Mariners had the bases loaded with two outs. That’s when Rodriguez stepped to the plate once again. After a little bit of a back and forth battle with Rangers reliever Jose Leclerc, Rodriguez sent one over the wall in center field for a grand slam. It was his 16th home run of the season, and the first grand slam hit by the Mariners this season.
Mariners Power Past Rangers
The Rangers had some hopeful moments in this game, but they just couldn’t come up with enough of an offensive spark to keep up with a very good Mariners team. The Rangers got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning on a solo shot by Corey Seager. It was Seager’s 22nd home run of the season, and it was also his sixth home run in the last eight games. The Rangers scored their final two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Leody Taveras hit a two-run home run with first baseman Nathaniel Lowe on base. It was a glimmer of hope, but that’s where the offense would stop for the Rangers on Friday.
Pitching Notes
It was a starter by committee situation for the Rangers on Friday. Matt Bush got the abbreviated start. He pitched one inning, and he pitched well in that inning, as he only gave up one hit. Taylor Hearn, who had just been recalled from Triple-A Round Rock, came on to pitched the next four innings. He got off to rocky start as he walked the first batter that he faced on four pitches. He was able to recover, however, and turn in a decent outing. Over the four innings that Hearn pitched, he gave up two earned runs on five hits. He did, however, take the losing decision for the Rangers on Friday.
His record for 2022 now sits at 4–6, with an ERA of 5.78. Left-hander Robbie Ray got the win for the Mariners in this one. He pitched 6 2/3 innings, and gave up three runs, all earned, on six hits. Two of those hits were the home runs to Seager and Taveras. Ray didn’t walk anyone, and he struck out 12. His record for 2022 now sits at 8–6, with an ERA of 3.54.
Main Photo:
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Players Mentioned:
Corey Seager, Logan Gilbert, Spencer Howard, Adam Frazier, Eugenio Suarez, Charlie Culberson, Justin Upton, Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, Ty France, Jose Leclerc, Leody Taveras, Nathaniel Lowe, Matt Bush, Taylor Hearn, Robbie Ray
