Mariners at Rangers
Seattle will be going for a series split after rallying for a 4-3 victory on Wednesday night. The Mariners scored three ninth-inning runs against Texas closer Joe Nathan, spoiling an excellent outing by starter Colby Lewis. The Rangers had held Seattle scoreless for 23 innings going back to Monday night’s series opener before the stunning implosion by the bullpen.
Nathan’s meltdown aside, pitching has been the driving force behind the Rangers’ solid start. Texas has not skipped a beat since losing C.J. Wilson in free agency, allowing just 15 runs overall and getting scoreless outings from their starting pitchers in three of the last four games. The Mariners, who were not expected by many to threaten Texas and Los Angeles in the AL West this season, have been among the league’s better hitting teams thus far after scoring fewer runs than any teams in the major leagues a year ago.
TV: 2:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Seattle), Fox Sports Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Jason Vargas (1-0, ERA 2.31) vs. Rangers LH Derek Holland (0-0, ERA 4.50)
Vargas has already taken the mound twice in 2012, pitching 6 1/3 strong innings last month against Oakland in Japan (2 H, 1 ER, 3 K) and posting a victory against the A’s a week later (5 1/3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 K). He has had mixed results in his 11 career outings against the Rangers, going 3-4 with a 4.53 ERA. Texas hitters have reached Vargas for 10 home runs in 57 2/3 innings.
Holland got off to a shaky start in his 2012 debut against Chicago, giving up three runs in the first three innings before settling down with three scoreless frames. The left-hander is 5-1 with a 3.17 ERA against the Mariners, and he struck out eight in a five-hit shutout win at Seattle last July 14. Current Mariners are a combined 31-for-119 (.261) against Holland.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Texas OF Nelson Cruz is 5-for-16 against Vargas, with three of his five hits leaving the yard. OF Josh Hamilton and C Mike Napoli each have a pair of home runs against the lefty as well.
2. The Mariners had lost seven straight games against Texas before Wednesday’s comeback.
3. Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler hit his third home run of the season Wednesday, moving into a tie for the American League lead.