Kyle Higashioka homers as Rangers beat George Kirby for 1st time in 3-2 win over Mariners

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kyle Higashioka gave Texas the lead with a two-run homer, Nathan Eovaldi recorded his 1,500th career strikeout during six solid innings and the Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Higashioka's liner just over the wall in left field in the fifth put the Rangers in front 3-2 against George Kirby, who lost to Texas for the first time in 11 career starts. The right-hander won eight of those first 10.

Brendan Donovan homered to right on the first pitch of the game in Eovaldi's 300th career start, but the 36-year-old right-hander settled in and struck out seven, including Josh Naylor for his 1,500th to end the first inning. Eovaldi (1-2) allowed six hits and two runs.

Jacob Latz finished two perfect innings with strikeouts of Naylor and Randy Arozarena, who combined to go 0 for 8 with seven strikeouts from the 4-5 spots in the Seattle order. The left-hander set a franchise record by holding opponents hitless in 28 at-bats to start the season.

Jakob Junis pitched around consecutive singles to start the ninth for his second save in two games, matching his career total from 253 career appearances over nine seasons.

Cal Raleigh gave Seattle a 2-0 lead in the fifth with an RBI single, one night after the catcher who led the majors with 60 homers in 2025 went deep for the first time this season.

Kirby (1-2) had a career ERA of 0.97 against Texas when Joc Pederson and Evan Carter opened the fifth with consecutive singles. Pederson advanced to second on Donovan's throwing error at third base, then scored on Carter's base hit before Higashioka drilled an 0-1 pitch to left.

Kirby gave up six hits over eight innings in his second career complete game — both losses in eight-inning outings — as Mariners lost a series for the first time in 10 meetings with the Rangers going back to September 2023.

Mariners RHP Bryan Woo (0-0, 1.38 ERA) faces Texas lefty MacKenzie Gore (1-0, 3.97) in the series finale Wednesday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Texas Rangers' Joc Pederson (3) reaches on a single as Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (12) dives for an errant throw to the bag in the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh (29) celebrates hitting a run-scoring single as first base coach Eric Young Jr., right, and umpire Brock Ballou, left, look on in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi throws to the Seattle Mariners in the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers' Kyle Higashioka (11) celebrates with Josh Smith, right, and Evan Carter, rear, after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

LAVAL, Quebec (AP) — Three second-period goals spurred the Montreal Victoire to a 4-1 win over the Seattle Torrent on Tuesday night.

Montreal moved closer to clinching home-ice advantage in the first round of playoffs. The Victoire ranked first in the eight-team league with four games remaining in the regular season.

For Seattle, the loss moved the Torrent closer to becoming the first PWHL team eliminated from postseason contention.

Natalie Mlynkova, Laura Stacey, Skylar Irving and Shiann Darkangelo scored for the Victoire. Lina Ljungblom added two assists and Ann-Renee Desbiens made 24 saves in Montreal’s net at Place Bell.

Theresa Schafzahl scored and Hannah Murphy made 21 saves for the Torrent.

Seattle needs to win Wednesday in Ottawa to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Mlynkova opened the scoring at 2:28 of the second period when Alexandra Labelle kicked the puck toward her at the side of the net, and Mlynkova was able to put it past Murphy for her fifth of the season.

The Victoire doubled their lead 75 seconds later on the power play when Ljungblom fed Stacey on a two-on-one. Stacey tipped the puck past Murphy for her seventh goal of the season.

Seattle scored its lone goal at 9:53 of the second period. After Desbiens made the initial save on a Torrent two-on-one, Schafzahl tapped the loose puck in the crease by Desbiens for her fourth this season.

Montreal regained the two-goal advantage at 11:55 when Irving one-timed a backhand pass from Maggie Flaherty from behind the net.

Darkangelo added an empty-net goal.

Up next

Torrent: Visit the Ottawa Charge on Wednesday.

Victoire: Visit the Boston Fleet on Saturday.

AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

Montreal Victoire's Skylar Irving (88) scores on Seattle Torrent goaltender Hannah Murphy (83) while Torrent's Mariah Keopple (20) defends, during the second period of a PWHL hockey gamen in Laval, Que., on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Victoire's Alexandra Labelle (13) defends against Seattle Torrent's Anna Wilgren (5) during the second period of a PWHL hockey gamen in Laval, Que., on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Seattle Torrent goaltender Hannah Murphy (83) makes a save on Montreal Victoire's Maggie Flaherty (91) during third period PWHL hockey action in Laval, Que., on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Victoire's Natalie Mlynkova (96) celebrates after scoring on Seattle Torrent goaltender Hannah Murphy (83), during the second period of a PWHL hockey gamen in Laval, Que., on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Seattle Torrent in a PWHL hockey game in Laval, Quebec, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)