Todd Frazier scored the tiebreaking run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning, Willie Calhoun then hit a two-run single and the Texas Rangers overcame an early four-run deficit to beat the Seattle Mariners 7-4 on Wednesday night.
Derek Dietrich started the Rangers' five-run eighth with his one-out single, before Elvis Andrus doubled and pinch-hitter Frazier was hit by a pitch. Dietrich scored on No. 9 batter Jeff Mathis' bloop single to left center before Shin-Soo Choo's sacrifice fly tied the game. Then came the wild pitch by Taylor Williams, who had just taken over for Erik Swanson (0-1).
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Todd Frazier scored the tiebreaking run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning, Willie Calhoun then hit a two-run single and the Texas Rangers overcame an early four-run deficit to beat the Seattle Mariners 7-4 on Wednesday night.
Jonathan Hernandez (3-0), the fourth Texas pitcher, pitched a scoreless eighth before Rafael Montero's perfect ninth for his fourth save in as many chances.
Dietrich, already with two hits, was hit by a pitch with two outs in the sixth and stole second base before scoring on J.P. Crawford's throwing error when Elvis Andrus hit a grounder. Seattle's shortstop then made a spectacular inning-ending play, diving up the middle on another chopper and while still on the ground scooped the ball from his glove to second baseman Long for the forceout.
FOR STARTERS
Rangers: RHP Jimmy Herget was recalled from the alternate training site when RHP Nick Goody (back spasms) was put on the 10-day injured list. ... C Robinson Chirinos was out of the lineup for the second game in a row, and before a scheduled off day Thursday, because of left ankle soreness. Manager Chris Woodward expects him to be ready to play the next game.
Rangers: Have their fourth off day of season before opening a three-game series Friday at Colorado, which won 2 of 3 at Texas to start the season.
Seattle Mariners' Daniel Vogelbach (20) celebrates his two-run home run as he approaches home plate in the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. The shot scored Shed Long Jr. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)
Dietrich had three hits and was hit by a pitch, becoming the first player since Joey Gallo in June 2015 to reach base safely four times.
Seattle Mariners' Daniel Vogelbach (20) and Shed Long Jr. (4) celebrate a two-run home run by Vogelbach that scored Long Jr., in the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)
Jonathan Hernandez (3-0), the fourth Texas pitcher, pitched a scoreless eighth before Rafael Montero's perfect ninth for his fourth save in as many chances.
Seattle scored all of its runs in the second off Jordan Lyles. Austin Nola led off by lining a 424-foot homer into Seattle's bullpen in left-center before Shed Long Jr. walked. Daniel Vogelbach then made it 3-0 when he pulled a 442-foot shot into the right field seats — well beyond the five rows of cardboard cutouts of fans. Kyle Lewis later added a sacrifice fly.
The Mariners now finally get their first day off of the season after being the only American League team to open with 20 games in 20 days.
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) throws to the Texas Rangers in the first inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)
Dietrich, already with two hits, was hit by a pitch with two outs in the sixth and stole second base before scoring on J.P. Crawford's throwing error when Elvis Andrus hit a grounder. Seattle's shortstop then made a spectacular inning-ending play, diving up the middle on another chopper and while still on the ground scooped the ball from his glove to second baseman Long for the forceout.
After 721 big league games the past seven seasons for Miami (2013-18) and Cincinnati (2019), Dietrich was released by the Chicago Cubs last weekend before signing a minor league deal with Texas on Monday. He was added the roster Tuesday and started the series finale in place of struggling second baseman Rougned Odor, who is hitting .116 this season with only two hits and 13 strikeouts his last 29 at-bats.
Calhoun also drove in another run with a single in the seventh.
Seattle Mariners' Kyle Lewis follows through on a sacrifice fly to right in the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. Tim Lopes scored on the play. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)
FOR STARTERS
Taijuan Walker allowed only an unearned run and scattered six hits over six innings, with five strikeouts and one walk. It was the fourth start in his return to Seattle, which traded the right-hander to Arizona after the 2016 season, after making only four starts combined the past two seasons for the Diamondbacks because of his Tommy John surgery in April 2018. ... Lyles allowed 11 base runners in his five innings — six hits, four walks and a hit batter.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Seattle Mariners third base coach Manny Acta, bottom center left, celebrates with Austin Nola, bottom center right, who trots home after hitting a solo home run against the Texas Rangers in the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)
Rangers: RHP Jimmy Herget was recalled from the alternate training site when RHP Nick Goody (back spasms) was put on the 10-day injured list. ... C Robinson Chirinos was out of the lineup for the second game in a row, and before a scheduled off day Thursday, because of left ankle soreness. Manager Chris Woodward expects him to be ready to play the next game.
UP NEXT
Mariners: After day off Thursday, open a three-game series Friday in Houston.
Texas Rangers center fielder Joey Gallo (13) throws the ball in after fielding a fly out by Seattle Mariners' Kyle Lewis in the first inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)
Rangers: Have their fourth off day of season before opening a three-game series Friday at Colorado, which won 2 of 3 at Texas to start the season.
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Seattle Mariners' Kyle Seager connects, but lines-out to first as Texas Rangers catcher Jeff Mathis looks on in the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)
Seattle Mariners' Daniel Vogelbach (20) celebrates his two-run home run as he approaches home plate in the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. The shot scored Shed Long Jr. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)