Rangers 1, Mariners 0
Adrian Beltre reached on a fielder’s choice in the ninth inning as visiting Texas defeated Seattle ace Felix Hernandez for the 21st time.
Elvis Andrus singled to center with one out in the ninth and stole second and third and Hernandez (8-2) was pulled after walking Shin-Soo Choo. Fernando Rodney induced Beltre to hit a grounder to short and second baseman Robinson Cano’s relay throw to first was late and off the mark as Andrus scored the game’s only run.
Hernandez struck out six and allowed four hits and two walks in 8 1/3 innings while losing for the first time since April 21. Texas starter Nick Tepesch allowed two hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings, Shawn Tolleson (2-1) worked a perfect eighth and Joakim Soria pitched a flawless ninth for his 14th save.
After Alex Rios singled to start the second, Hernandez retired the next 15 batters until Choo singled with one out in the seventh. A wild pitch and an infield out moved Choo to third before Hernandez struck out Rios to extinguish the threat.
Tepesch was removed after walking two of the first three Seattle hitters in the seventh and Jason Frasor entered and fanned Endy Chavez and Dustin Ackley. Mike Zunino had both hits as the Mariners lost their fourth consecutive game.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Mariners 2B Robinson Cano was hitless in four at-bats to halt a 10-game hitting streak. … Andrus was 2-for-4 to raise his career average against Hernandez to .307 in 75 at-bats. … Hernandez threw 114 pitches and took over the major-league lead with 112 strikeouts but dropped to 12-21 lifetime against the Rangers.