Skidding Rangers can't solve Gonzales as Mariners roll, 7-3

Marco Gonzales gave up a run in the first inning in part due to a fan. He gave up four singles in five batters to open the second and was immediately in a bases-loaded jam.

"For me, I'd rather have that early in the game than late when you're fatigued," Gonzales said. "Guys on base, those are big situations that you'd like to have early on, and then hopefully that gets you in a groove."

Gonzales recovered from the shaky start to throw seven strong innings, Austin Nola hit a three-run homer to put Seattle ahead for good, and the Mariners handed the Texas Rangers their eighth straight loss with a 7-3 victory Monday night.

Seattle Mariners' Austin Nola connects for a three-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, July 22, 2019, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

The Rangers' swoon since the All-Star break continued as Texas was shut down by Gonzales (11-8) after the second inning. The left-hander finished seven for the second time in three starts, retiring 13 straight during one stretch and 17 of the final 18 batters he faced.

Gonzales allowed seven hits and struck out four, but was fortunate to even get through the second.

"Texas has been struggling a little bit and didn't want to give them a bunch of early momentum. He was able to shut it off right there and give us a chance," Seattle manager Scott Servais said.

Seattle Mariners' Austin Nola is congratulated on his three-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, July 22, 2019, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

Texas took a 2-0 lead after Shin-Soo Choo's RBI single, the last of four singles in five batters to start the second inning. But Gonzales struck out Danny Santana looking on a borderline pitch and won a lengthy battle against Elvis Andrus to end the threat with a lineout to right field. Gonzales needed 12 pitches to finally get Andrus, and the at-bat included eight foul balls.

"I was just trying to make stuff up. I didn't know what he was doing, I don't know if he knew what I was doing, but it was a good battle," Gonzales said.

From there the only baserunner Gonzales allowed was Rougned Odor, who reached on a two-out single in the sixth. Roenis Elias got the final out for his 12th save.

Texas Rangers' Tim Federowicz grimaces as he heads to the dugout after striking out swinging with the bases loaded against the Seattle Mariners in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, July 22, 2019, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

Texas is 2-8 since the break and has fallen back to .500 at 50-50.

"You try not to let those things affect you, but everybody feels it, everybody wants to be the guy to stop our losing streak," manager Chris Woodward said. "We've still got to go the same way we've prepared all year. Let's win each pitch of every game, just be as prepared as we possibly can, and have a game plan every at-bat, every pitch we throw, just not lose sight of that. It's important."

Nola hit his third homer in the bottom of the second off Texas starter Adrian Sampson. Mallex Smith added a two-run single in the fourth and Kyle Seager homered leading off the eighth.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Adrian Sampson pops a new ball up from his glove after giving up a three-run home run to Seattle Mariners' Austin Nola in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, July 22, 2019, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

Sampson (6-7) made his first start since July 5 after three straight appearances out of the bullpen and gave up six runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"I wanted to be the guy to kind of stop the bleeding, pick up the team and get everyone right on track," Sampson said. "That hanging curveball put up three runs. Other than that I thought I made some good pitches."

STEALING A RUN

Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager throws to first base after fielding a grounder from Texas Rangers' Hunter Pence in the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 22, 2019, in Seattle. Pence was out on the play. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

Texas took a 1-0 lead in the first with the help of an ambitious Rangers fan with good seats. With two outs, Hunter Pence hit a foul ball near the stands down the left field line. Seager raced over and leaned into the stands to make the catch, only to have it stolen by a young Rangers fan sitting in the first row. Later in the at-bat Pence singled to score Andrus.

CLOSING TIME

The Rangers placed closer Shawn Kelley on the 10-day injured list with biceps soreness in his right arm, but Woodward said the injury appears far less severe than first believed. Kelley left Sunday's game at Houston in the eighth after throwing several warmup pitches. An MRI showed no acute injury. Texas selected the contract of reliever Rafael Montero from Triple-A Nashville to take Kelley's roster spot and designated for assignment outfielder Carlos Tocci to clear a 40-man roster spot.

GORDON'S EXIT

Seattle 2B Dee Gordon left after the second inning due to a strained quad muscle and was replaced by Dylan Moore. Gordon was hit in the back of the shoulder on a pickoff attempt by Sampson, but Servais said it was the quad that caused him to pull Gordon. He finished the inning on the bases before being replaced.

UP NEXT

Rangers: Texas is expected to call up RHP Pedro Payano to make a spot start Tuesday night, but might also use an opener. Payano has appeared in one game this season for the Rangers. He's made 15 starts in the minors between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Nashville.

Mariners: Will start LHP Tommy Milone. Seattle was going to use an opener but decided to go with Milone from the start. He is 1-4 with a 3.95 ERA this season.

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Kole Calhoun lined a two-out RBI double to score Adolis García in ninth, García made a terrific diving catch in the bottom of the inning and the Texas Rangers rallied from an early five-run deficit to beat the Seattle Mariners 8-6 Thursday night.

Texas snapped a five-game losing streak and avoided being swept by the Mariners by taking advantage of some sloppy defense by Seattle and getting Calhoun’s key hit.

García walked with two outs in the ninth against Seattle’s Drew Steckenrider. Calhoun followed by a lining a 2-2 pitch down the right-field line, and García scored from first without a throw.

Texas Rangers' Kole Calhoun follows through on an RBI double during the ninth inning of the team's baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Seattle. (AP PhotoTed S. Warren)

Nathanial Lowe followed with an RBI single off Steckenrider (0-1) for a two-run lead.

Joe Barlow (1-0) earned the victory by striking out Tom Murphy with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning and pitched a perfect ninth.

García helped him close it out from center field by sprinting back and to his right and extending fully for Julio Rodríguez's line drive for the second out.

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez, center, holds his bat after he was called out on strikes by home plate umpire Carlos Torres, left, as Texas Rangers catcher Mitch Garver returns the ball during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Seattle. (AP PhotoTed S. Warren)

Seattle scored five times in the first inning against Texas starter Taylor Hearn on the strength of home runs by Ty France and J.P. Crawford. But the Mariners did nothing else offensively until the eighth inning when Eugenio Suárez lined a two-out RBI single off Matt Bush to score Adam Frazier with the tying run.

The Mariners were shaky defensively with three errors, including two by shortstop J.P. Crawford in the fifth inning that helped lead to four unearned runs.

Crawford’s first error in the inning led to Eli White scoring on Corey Seager’s sacrifice fly.

Texas Rangers' Nick Solak, right, is greeted by Adolis Garcia after Solak hit a two-run home run to score Garcia during the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Seattle. (AP PhotoTed S. Warren)

Crawford’s second error allowed Mitch Garver to reach with two outs. García doubled off Seattle starter Marco Gonzales to pull the Rangers within 5-4 and Nick Solak hit the first pitch from Gonzales into the left-field bullpens for a two-run homer to give Texas a 6-5 lead.

It was the second time in his career Crawford had two errors in a game.

Gonzales pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up six hits, but only two of the six runs were earned. He also struck out six, but it was his second outing this season that spiraled after a defensive mistake.

Texas Rangers' Nick Solak hits a two-run home run during the fifth inning of the team's baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Seattle. (AP PhotoTed S. Warren)

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: Texas will be without RHP Jon Gray for at least one start after he sprained his left knee. Gray was injured during his start Tuesday night against Seattle. Gray said the injury happened on the first pitch of the game when he stepped off the mound reacting to a fake bunt attempt. He finished five innings against the Mariners.

Mariners: Seattle got a bit of good news on as no other players or members of the coaching staff tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday after several days of players and staff afflicted by the virus. Manager Scott Servais continued to take part in meetings and game planning virtually, acting manager Kristopher Negron said.

Seattle Mariners' Ty France, left, is greeted by Adam Frazier (26) after France hit a two-run home run to score Frazier during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Seattle. (AP PhotoTed S. Warren)

UP NEXT

Rangers: RHP Glenn Otto (0-0, 0.00) is expected to be brought up from Triple-A Round Rock to start Friday night against Oakland in the opener of a three-game series. Otto made his major league debut last season with the Rangers, going 0-3 with a 9.26 ERA in six starts.

Mariners: RHP Chris Flexen (0-2, 5.23) starts as Seattle opens a series against Kansas city. Flexen allowed three runs in six innings but took the loss in his last start against Houston.

Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford holds the ball as he jogs to the dugout after the top of the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Seattle. (AP PhotoTed S. Warren)

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Texas Rangers' Adolis Garcia is waved home by third-base coach Tony Beasley, right, as Garcia scores on a double by Kole Calhoun during the ninth inning of the team's baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Seattle. (AP PhotoTed S. Warren)