Mariners 4, Rangers 2
SEATTLE -- Felix Hernandez pitched seven quality innings, and the Seattle Mariners hit two home runs on the way to a 4-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.
Mariners right fielder Nelson Cruz hit his 33rd home run of the season, a solo shot in the sixth inning that put Seattle ahead 4-2. Cruz matched the Angels' Mike Trout for the most home runs in the American League. Seattle first baseman Jesus Montero had a solo shot, his second home run of the year.
Hernandez (14-6) allowed two runs on six hits over seven innings to earn his third win in three starts against Texas this year. He carried a 12-21 career record against the Rangers into the season.
A two-run homer by Montero gave the Mariners a 3-2 lead in the fourth.
Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor had given e Texas a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the second, then a Hernandez wild pitch brought in right fielder Shin-Soo Choo from third base as the Rangers went ahead 2-0 in the third.
Seattle got a run back in the bottom of the third, when the Mariners' first hit of the game was an RBI single from rookie center fielder Ketel Marte.
One inning later, after second baseman Robinson Cano lined into a double play to clear the bases, left fielder Seth Smith hit a two-out single to right to set up Montero's two-run shot. That gave Seattle its first lead of the game, at 3-2.
Cruz then led off the sixth with a towering home run to left field. He hammered a Colby Lewis pitch 410 feet, extending his hitting streak to a career-best 19 games. Cruz has had an extra-base hit in nine consecutive games.
The Rangers (55-55) had a chance to tie or take the lead in both the eighth and ninth innings, but they stranded four runners over those two frames. Texas got a leadoff walk and a one-out single off reliever Fernando Rodney in the eighth, but the Rangers couldn't capitalize on that. Odor led off the ninth with an infield single, then Choo got hit by a pitch to put two runners on with two outs. But designated hitter Prince Fielder grounded to second base on the first pitch he saw to end the game.
Seattle closer Carson Smith earned his 12th save of the season after getting through the ninth.
Rangers manager Jeff Banister was thrown out of the game in the top of the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes.
Lewis (12-5) lost for only the second time since May, despite pitching an eight-inning complete game. He allowed four runs, three earned, off five hits.
Fielder, who was 0-for-17 against Hernandez entering the game, had hits in each of his first two at-bats and went 2-for-3. Odor went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and finished off the Seattle series with seven hits in 12 at-bats.
Seattle (52-60) had just five hits Sunday while winning its second consecutive series -- the first time the Mariners have done that at home all year.
NOTES: Entering Sunday's game, Texas RHP Colby Lewis had won eight of his last nine decisions. ... The Rangers' 21 wins over Seattle RHP Felix Hernandez were easily the most by any team against the Mariners starter during his 11-year career. ... The only Seattle reliever available Sunday who hadn't pitched in Saturday's 11-inning affair was closer Carson Smith. The Mariners used seven pitchers in the 11-3 loss to Texas on Saturday afternoon. ... Seattle OF Franklin Gutierrez (flu) was not available for Sunday's game. He sat out Friday and Saturday as well.