Seattle Mariners Snap 4-Game Losing Streak in 7-3 Win Against Texas Rangers

SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners didn't let their offensive opportunities go to waste and snapped a four-game losing streak in a 7-3 victory against the Texas Rangers on Saturday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

"I think it all comes back to the approach of when you're in those (scoring) situations, using the middle of the field, not trying to do too much and getting it through," Mariners manager Dan Wilson said after the game. " ... That's what we're continuing to look to do. That's what our offense does."

Whereas Seattle (9-13) was able to take advantage of its chances, the same couldn't be said for Texas.

The Rangers went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 16. Texas had the bases loaded three separate innings and came up empty in two of them.

The only inning the Rangers were able to score with the bases juiced was in the top of the ninth. Down 7-1 with one out, center fielder Evan Carter hit an RBI sacrifice fly to bring home left fielder Wyatt Langford and second baseman Ezequiel Duran hit an RBI double. Those hits resulted in the eventual final of 7-3.

Mariners reliever Cole Wilcox walked catcher Kyle Higashioka after Duran's double, giving Texas the bases loaded (again) with two outs. Right fielder and lead-off hitter Brandon Nimmo stepped to the plate representing the game-tying run for the Rangers.

Seattle's two-time All-Star closer Andres Munoz took the mound to get the final out and struck out Nimmo on four pitches.

Munoz's game-sealing punch-out came three days after he allowed five earned runs in the ninth in a 7-6 loss against the San Diego Padres.

"It feels a lot better," Munoz said in a postgame interview. "Obviously, still got a lot of work to do. Been working a lot these couple of days to get to this point. Obviously, we're not there yet. But makes me feel a lot better that we're in the right direction."

Seattle Mariners closer Andres Munoz celebrates after getting the final out in a 7-3 win against the Texas Rangers on Saturday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. | Stephen Brashear/Imagn Images.

The pitching staff was the definition of "bend don't break" Saturday. Aside from Munoz, every pitcher who saw the mound allowed a free base. Of the bullpen group of Matt Brash, Gabe Speier, Eduard Bazardo, Jose Ferrer, Wilcox and Munoz — Wilcox was the only one who allowed a run.

The solid pitching day started with George Kirby.

The fifth-year starter struck out five, walked two and allowed one earned run on seven hits (one home run) in 5.2 innings pitched. The one run he allowed came via a solo homer hit by third baseman Josh Jung in the top of the sixth.

"I feel like I kind of wasted a lot of pitches. Got into some deeper counts, forced a couple of those guys on (base)," Kirby said after the game. "But you just got to not worry about them and keep attacking the hitter. So I'm glad I was able to go out there and kind of show that, keep them at bay, hold the runs in and then keep going."

Kirby benefited from an early lead that continued to grow as the game progressed.

Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez hit an RBI single in the bottom of the first to bring home shortstop J.P. Crawford, who got on-base via a lead-off double.

In the bottom of the fourth, designated hitter Dominic Canzone hit a two-RBI single that bolstered Seattle's advantage to 3-0.

Canzone finished the game 3-for-4 with a run, a double and two RBIs. It was his first three-hit game of the season.

Right fielder Luke Raley scorched a 112.7-mph solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to make the lead 4-1.

The Mariners put a bow on their scoring output with a three-run eighth inning. Second baseman Cole Young hit a two-RBI single and later scored on a sacrifice fly hit by third baseman Leo Rivas.

Seattle will look to win its second-straight home series in the rubber match against Texas at 1:10 p.m. PT on Sunday.

Bryan Woo will start for the Mariners and MacKenzie Gore will start for the Rangers.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

Remember to join our MARINERS on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Mariners fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!