Rangers 5 - 6 Mariners
Final
  for this game

Mariners hold off Rangers

Apr 26, 2014 - 7:02 AM Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Justin Smoak stroked the go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning and made the game-saving catch in the ninth to send the Seattle Mariners to a 6-5 win over the Texas Rangers to open a three- game series.

The Mariners nearly wasted a 6-3 lead in the ninth. Fernando Rodney walked Michael Choice and Elvis Andrus, back-to-back, with the bases loaded and one out. Adrian Beltre, who was just activated off the disabled list Friday, then lined a ball destined for the right-field corner, but Smoak made the diving stop. Choice was frozen by the incredible play and Smoak tagged the base for the game-ending double play and secured Rodney's fourth save.

"Stretched as far as I could stretch and it happened to go in the glove," Smoak said.

Robinson Cano hit a two-run double for the Mariners, who have won two in a row following an eight-game skid. The only other time Seattle won consecutive games came during a 3-0 start.

Yoervis Medina (1-1) pitched one inning to get the win.

Prince Fielder had two hits and scored once for the Rangers, who lost for the second time in 10 games.

Neal Cotts (1-2) loaded the bases on a single by Cano, a walk to Corey Hart and a bunt hit by Stefen Romero. Smoak then doubled to left, just beyond the reach of Choice. Kyle Seager hit a bloop single to left to plate Romero.

Alexi Ogando entered from the bullpen and uncorked a wild pitch to make it a three-run cushion.

J.P. Arencibia scored on a wild pitch in the third, and the Rangers moved to a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Beltre doubled to center to plate Andrus.

The Mariners tied it in the fifth on Cano's two-run double to left, but Fielder made it 3-2 Texas in the sixth when he scored on a wild pitch from Dominic Leone.

Rangers starter Robbie Ross Jr. pitched the first six innings and Seattle's Roenis Elias fanned six over the opening 5 2/3 frames.

"We battled. Right there at the end, I thought we were gonna win that thing," Ross said.

Game Notes

The Rangers made room for Beltre on the roster by placing third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff on the DL with lower back tightness ... The Rangers went 0-for-6 with men in scoring position ... Beltre had been on the DL since April 13 with a strained left quad ... Rodney threw 27 pitches with only 13 strikes.






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