Mariners 9, Rangers 2
Kendrys Morales hit two homers and matched his career high with six RBIs as visiting Seattle routed Texas in the opener of a three-game series.
Morales hit a solo blast in the first inning and a three-run shot in the fifth before delivering a two-run single in the sixth as the Mariners won for only the second time in their last six games. Raul Ibanez also went deep for Seattle to become the sixth player in major-league history age 41 or older to hit 20 homers in a season.
Joe Saunders (6-8) allowed two runs (one earned) and 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings in a strong bounce-back outing while improving to 4-9 lifetime against the Rangers. Saunders surrendered six runs and six hits – including three homers – in 1 2/3 frames against Pittsburgh on June 25.
Ibanez and Morales hit back-to-back homers off Justin Grimm (7-6) in the first inning. Elvis Andrus got Texas on the board with a third-inning RBI single before Dustin Ackley doubled home a run in the fourth for a 3-1 Seattle lead.
Morales smacked his three-run shot off Grimm to make it 6-1, and his single off Ross Wolf boosted the lead to seven. The loss was just the third in the last 12 games for the Rangers.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Morales is 9-for-21 during his five-game hitting streak. He collected six RBIs for the fourth time in his career and first since July 30 at Texas while with the Los Angeles Angels. … Grimm allowed six runs (five earned) and seven hits in four-plus innings. … Ackley was in the lineup despite suffering a thumb injury on Sunday and went 1-for-5.