Rowdy Tellez’s pinch-hit run-scoring single in the ninth inning was the difference as the Seattle Mariners’ offense was slowed a bit but still beat the swooning Texas Rangers 2-1 on Saturday in the second of a three-game American League West series in Arlington, Texas.
The Mariners have won six straight games and nine of their last 10 and clinched their eighth straight series win and second against Texas this season.
Tellez’s one-out RBI came off Texas reliever Chris Martin (0-4), the fourth Rangers’ pitcher. The last-at-bat uprising made a winner out of Seattle’s Gabe Speier (1-0), who allowed a walk but nothing else in the eighth inning.
Andes Munoz, the AL relief pitcher of the month for March/April, allowed a one-out walk in the ninth inning before striking out Adolis Garcia with two outs and a runner on second to earn his 12th save of the season.
Texas has lost four straight games and seven of its past eight and dropped its fourth consecutive series. The Rangers, who had five hits Saturday, have scored a combined three runs in their past four contests.
Neither starter figured in the decision with both Luis Castillo for the Mariners and Patrick Corbin for Texas allowing one run and leaving with the game tied. Castillo departed after six innings and giving up four hits and two walks while striking out two; Corbin lasted 5 2/3 innings, scattering five hits with two strikeouts and a pair of walks.
The Mariners took the lead on the initial pitch of the game as J.P. Crawford ripped an offering from Corbin over the right field fence. Texas tied the game in the fourth when Corey Seager started the frame with a single, went to second on a groundout by Joc Pederson and scored on Jonah Heim’s two-out single to right field.
Neither team made noise until the ninth, when Seattle used its bench players and great situational hitting to reassume the lead. Polanco began the frame with a double off the glove of a diving Garcia and went to third on Ben Williamson’s groundout to second base. Tellez then ripped a two-strike single to center field to bring home Polanco and make it 2-1.
