Mariners 3, Rangers 2
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Seattle right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma didn't have no-hit stuff Tuesday, but he was still good enough as the Mariners cooled off the Texas Rangers, 3-2.
Iwakuma, who had a no-hitter in his last outing, gave up just five hits in seven innings to a Texas team that had won five- traight overall and eight straight at Globe Life Park.
The Mariners gave Iwakuma more than enough run support in the top of the first, scoring three times off Texas rookie right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez.
Designated hitter Nelson Cruz lined an RBI double to left field and two batters later, right fielder Seth Smith hit a two-run homer into the Texas bullpen in right-center.
The Rangers got a run off Iwakuma in the second inning on a solo homer by second baseman Rougned Odor. Texas trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by catcher Bobby Wilson. Iwakuma struck out six and walked just one in his seven innings, and Carson Smith recorded his 13th save with a perfect ninth.
Gonzalez allowed just two hits after his rough first inning. He struck out a career high seven in his six innings of work on five hits.
Shortstop Ketel Marte and third baseman Kyle Seager each had two hits for the Mariners. The Cruz double extended his streak of reaching safely to 29 straight games, the fourth-longest streak in the majors this year.
Iwakuma's bid for a second straight no-hitter ended after Texas right fielder Shin-Soo Choo singled with one out in the first. But Iwakuma was still sharp, allowing four hits and throwing just 79 pitches through six innings while retiring 12 straight batters at one point.
NOTES: Texas OF Josh Hamilton was out of the lineup for a third consecutive game Tuesday with a sore left knee. Hamilton hopes to be in the lineup Thursday when the Rangers open a series at Detroit. ... Rangers C Robinson Chirinos, who is on the disabled list with a left shoulder strain, hopes to begin a rehab assignment this weekend. ... Rangers OF Shin-Soo Choo reached base Monday via a hit, a walk and getting hit by a pitch. That's the 21st time since 2009 that Choo has reached via all three. No other player has done it more than 16 times in that span (Kevin Youkilis). ... Seattle LHP James Paxton threw 30 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday. He's been out since May with a strained left middle finger and could begin a rehab assignment after a bullpen session Thursday. ... Seattle RHP Francisco Rodney has been on the mound for a walk-off defeat 19 times in his career, with three of them coming against the Rangers. The Mariners lead the AL with nine walk-off losses this season.