Mariners 3, Rangers 1
SEATTLE -- Felix Hernandez delivered when the Seattle Mariners needed him on Saturday night.
The Mariners ace allowed two hits in seven innings and had 12 strikeouts to help snap Seattle's four-game losing streak by way of a 3-1 win over the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field.
Hernandez (2-0) allowed just one run and that came after a controversial hit-by-pitch. He did enough to overcome an offense that went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and almost ran itself out of the game in the early innings.
Texas starter Colby Lewis received help from a Rangers defense that had three putouts on the bases in the first three innings, but he ran out of gas in the sixth. Lewis (1-1) allowed 10 hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings before leaving with Texas trailing 3-1.
Mariners catcher Mike Zunino gave Seattle the lead for good at 2-1 with a leadoff homer in the fifth. Shortstop Brad Miller added a two-out RBI triple in the sixth for a 3-1 lead.
Hernandez then went out and struck out the side in the top of the seventh, ending his night after 111 pitches.
Struggling Seattle closer Fernando Rodney came on in the ninth and retired all three batters he faced to post his third save of the season.
Second baseman Robinson Cano, third baseman Kyle Seager and Miller each had two hits for the Mariners. Seattle (4-7) totaled 11 hits.
Texas (5-7) had just two hits while striking out 15 times.
Zunino hit his first home run of the season on the first pitch of the bottom of the fifth. The solo homer put the Mariners ahead 2-1.
Seattle had taken a 1-0 lead on right fielder Seth Smith's one-out, bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth. Texas matched that in the top of the fifth when left fielder Jake Smolinski scored from third base on an Elvis Andrus groundout to tie the score at 1.
Smolinski reached base on a controversial play. Smolinski was awarded first when he appeared to be hit with a pitch on his fingers with an 0-2 count as he swung the bat. The Mariners thought it should have been ruled a foul ball, but the call stood after umpires looked at a replay.
The Mariners led off each of the first three innings with hits but ended up running themselves out of scoring opportunities.
Leadoff hitter Austin Jackson was thrown out at home trying to score from first on a Cano double in the first, then Seager and Miller were caught stealing in the second and third innings, respectively.
Miller was caught leaning too far off second base, but the out didn't come until the Rangers issued an instant-replay challenge.
Hernandez pitched himself into and out of trouble in the first before settling into a groove. Rangers center fielder Leonys Martin led off the game with a double and move to third on a sacrifice, but Hernandez was able to get out of that jam.
After hitting third baseman Adrian Beltre with a pitch with two outs in the first, Hernandez retired 11 of the next 13 batters he faced -- seven by way of strikeout -- without issuing a hit.
NOTES: Texas 1B Mitch Moreland took batting practice Saturday and told reporters afterward that he is "optimistic" he will avoid surgery on his sore left elbow. Moreland was not in the lineup for a second consecutive day after an MRI exam found a loose body in his elbow. General manager Jon Daniels said late Friday night that if the symptoms don't clear up by Monday, he probably will have a scope that could keep Moreland out 7-to-10 days. ... RF Carlos Peguero was in the Rangers' lineup Saturday night, which was significant not only because he played 65 games over his first three major league seasons with Seattle but also because RHP Felix Hernandez was on the mound for the Mariners. Last June, Peguero's wife Maria was sentenced to a year and a day in prison after stealing the credit card information of Hernandez's wife, Sandra, and going on a shopping spree. ... The Mariners' Hernandez entered Saturday's game with a career record of 12-21 and a 4.01 ERA against the Rangers. ... Hernandez was making his first Safeco Field start since Opening Day. ... Seattle SS Chris Taylor, who entered the spring in a battle for a starting job but sustained a broken bone in his right wrist during Cactus League play, was activated from the 15-day disabled list Saturday and optioned to Triple-A Tacoma. Taylor was already in Tacoma doing a rehab stint at the time the move was made. ... The Mariners are 3-0 in day games heading into Sunday's afternoon game at Safeco Field.