Rangers 4, Mariners 3
A.J. Pierzynski homered and blocked the plate superbly to thwart a game-tying squeeze attempt in the eighth inning as visiting Texas edged Seattle.
David Murphy had a run-scoring single and Nelson Cruz delivered a run-scoring double in a two-run fifth inning as the Rangers prevented Mariners ace Felix Hernandez (1-2) from recording his 100th career win. Joe Ortiz (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings and Joe Nathan worked a perfect ninth for his third save as the Rangers handed Seattle its third straight loss.
The Mariners pushed in one run in the eighth and had the tying run on third when Endy Chavez broke on the suicide squeeze. Brendan Ryan’s bunt was directly toward charging reliever Robbie Ross, who quickly got the ball to the plate and Pierzynski’s right foot prevented Chavez from reaching the plate and tying the score.
Pierzynski homered in the second and Elvis Andrus singled in a run later in the inning to give Texas a 2-1 lead. Murphy’s single put the Rangers ahead for good as Hernandez allowed four runs (three earned) and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Franklin Gutierrez homered and drove in another run on a fielder’s choice for Seattle. Robert Andino drove in the eighth-inning run on a grounder.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Seattle OF Michael Saunders (shoulder) went on the disabled list one day after crashing into the right-field wall and the Mariners recalled Chavez from Triple-A Tacoma. OF Michael Morse left Thursday’s game after the seventh inning with a fracture right pinkie finger. … Rangers starter Justin Grimm gave up two runs and five hits in four innings as a replacement for injured LHP Matt Harrison. … The Mariners acquired veteran RHP Aaron Harang from the Colorado Rockies for minor-league RHP Steven Hensley. Reliever Kameron Loe was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.