Seager's HR caps M's late rally over Rangers

May 7th, 2017

SEATTLE -- picked a timely moment for his first Safeco Field home run of the year, launching a go-ahead solo shot off Rangers reliever Sam Dyson in the eighth as the Mariners came from behind on Sunday for a 4-3 series-clinching win.
Seager's high-arching blast into the right-field seats was just his second long ball of the season after hitting a career-best 30 in 2016. The Mariners won their fourth straight series at Safeco, where they are 10-5, compared to 5-12 on the road.
"I've been feeling good the last couple days and hitting the ball a little harder," said Seager, who went 2-for-3 with a walk and also flew out to the center-field wall in the fourth. "Thankfully that one got out."
threw six-plus innings of one-run ball, but he was denied his first win for the Rangers when the bullpen let a 3-0 lead slip away. Cashner gave up four singles and three walks and is 0-3 with a 2.63 ERA in five starts for Texas, which is 1-5 against Seattle and 13-19 on the year.
"We've got to find a way to move past and keep grinding," manager Jeff Banister said. "Is it frustrating...yes. We can look at different things. We can look at us 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. That's as much of a challenge as the walks."

The Rangers scored on sacrifice flies in the first and seventh innings and pushed across a run in the second on a groundout to piece together the three-run lead, but Seattle matched that in the seventh with four walks and a two-run, pinch-hit single by Danny Valencia.

Left-hander got the spot start for Seattle in place of an injured , lasting just 3 1/3 innings as he needed 71 pitches while allowing four hits and two runs (one earned). , called up from Triple-A Tacoma before the game, kept the Mariners close by allowing just one hit and one run in 3 2/3 innings of relief.

Overton-Bergman duo helps patchwork rotation
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Special K: Strikeouts have been an issue for the Rangers, who had whiffed 10-plus times in seven straight games -- an American League record -- coming in. But Texas found a positive in its first strikeout on Sunday as Mike Napoli reached base when his swinging third strike got past veteran Mariners catcher on a passed ball leading off the second. Napoli then moved to third on 's double to left and scored on a ground ball by to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead. Texas would have tied a Major League record if it had struck out 10 times again, but the club wound up with nine on the day.

Rzepczynski strikes out Gallo: Rangers manager Jeff Banister made an interesting move in the eighth after a two-out double by Lucroy off right-hander Nick Vincent. He sent up Joey Gallo to pinch-hit for , which allowed Mariners manager Scott Servais to bring in for a lefty-versus-lefty matchup. Left-handed hitters were 0-for-19 off Rzepczynski coming into the game, and he struck out Gallo on three pitches.
"We've got 10 home runs and 21 RBIs sitting on the bench, a guy who can hit the ball out of the ballpark," Banister said. "We have a choice of Rua facing a right-hander with a little velo -- that can be a challenge -- or go with a guy who has been in situations of driving in runs. He hits some left-handers. Rzepczynski, we've seen him make a mistake before."

Rangers walk Mariners back: The Rangers, who lead the American League in bases on balls allowed, were up 3-0 going into the seventh, but four walks helped the Mariners tie the score. Cashner walked the first batter and was replaced by , who was pitching for the first time in five days. Leclerc walked three of five batters to force in a run. took over and gave up a two-run single to Valencia, who didn't start the game due to a tight hamstring.
"Jose was overthrowing, just trying to throw too hard," Lucroy said. "Walks killed us. That was the nail in the coffin." More >
QUOTABLE
"Kyle Seager had a really good series. It didn't always show up in the box score in the number of hits, but the number of balls he's hit hard in the last 3-4 games, he's really starting to get locked in. The nice thing is we're starting to get our offense rolling a little and it's been different guys almost every night. And that's what it takes." -- Servais
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Mariners shortstop went 2-for-3 and walked in Seattle's first run in the seventh-inning rally. He has hit .400 with 12 runs and 10 RBIs in 12 games since returning from the disabled list with a strained hamstring.

WHAT'S NEXT
Rangers: Right-hander pitches against the Padres at 9:10 p.m. CT on Monday at Petco Park. Martinez has never faced the Padres and is 2-0 with a 4.88 ERA in six games (five starts) in Interleague play.
Mariners: After an off-day on Monday, southpaw will move ahead of (bruised knee) in the rotation to start Tuesday's 4:05 p.m. PT series opener in Philadelphia. Miranda (3-2, 3.55 ERA) has never faced the Phillies.
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