The Sports Xchange
Aug 2, 2017
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Robinson Cano drove in three runs and Nelson Cruz homered as the Seattle Mariners moved two games over .500 for the second time this season by outslugging the Texas Rangers 8-7 at Globe Life Park.
Seattle (55-53) was also two games over .500 on June 23 and reached that high-water mark again by handing Texas (50-56) its fourth straight loss and dropping the Rangers six below .500 for the time since May 9.
The Mariners jumped out to a 5-0 lead after three innings and were able to blunt the Texas attempt to rally despite three homers.
Cruz got the Seattle offense going with a solo homer off Nick Martinez (3-4) to open the second inning. Leonys Martin added an RBI single later in the inning to make it 2-0.
Seattle pushed the lead to 5-0 in the third on an RBI double from Cano and run-scoring singles from Danny Valencia and Martin.
Texas got back into the game in the fourth inning with a pair of home runs.
Rougned Odor's two-run homer -- his 24th of the season -- was followed by a blast to center from Joey Gallo that trimmed the lead to 5-3 and ended the night for Seattle starter Erasmo Ramirez.
Erasmo Ramirez, who hadn't started since he was with Tampa Bay on June 21, gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits in 3 1/3 innings.
The Mariners got those three runs back in the top of the sixth on an RBI single from Jarrod Dyson and a two-run double by Cano. Gallo breathed life back into the Rangers in the bottom of the sixth, drilling a three-run homer to center -- his team-leading 27th, trimming the deficit to 8-6.
Texas got to within a run on a Mike Napoli run-scoring single in the seventh, but Nick Vincent struck out Carlos Gomez with the tying run at second. Dyson also threw out pinch runner Delino DeShields at third base to end the eighth inning.
Edwin Diaz notched his 21th save with a perfect ninth in support of reliever Casey Lawrence (1-3), who recorded the victory despite allowing three runs in 2 1/3 innings.
Nick Martinez allowed seven runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Dyson, Cano, Cruz, Valencia and Martin each had two hits for Seattle, which finished with 12. Shin-Soo Choo had three of the 12 Texas hits.
NOTES: Seattle OF Jarrod Dyson stole the 200th base of his career in the third inning. ... Seattle 2B Robinson Cano had two double, giving him 499 for his career and moving into 63rd all-time, tied with Rusty Staub. ... Texas 2B Rougned Odor has seven homers in his last nine games.