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Vargas shines as Mariners edge Rangers

May 6, 2011 - 5:39 AM

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Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Jason Vargas and the Seattle bullpen shut down the Rangers, and Justin Smoak and Ichiro Suzuki provided the Mariners with enough offense to take the three-game series with a 3-1 win on Thursday.

Vargas (2-2) allowed just one run on six hits and two walks over 7 2/3 innings, and Jamey Wright bridged the gap to Brandon League, who hurled a perfect ninth to record his ninth save in as many chances.

Smoak went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, while Suzuki had two hits and an RBI for the Mariners, winners in seven of their last nine.

Colby Lewis (2-4) went the full eight innings, giving up three runs on eight hits while posting a career-high 11 strikeouts in the loss, Texas' sixth in eight games.

"[Lewis has] got good stuff. For us to win a game like that against him, it's a plus," Smoak said.

Smoak's fifth home run off the season leading off the second staked Seattle to an early lead, and doubles by Brendan Ryan and Luis Rodriguez an inning later made it a 2-0 game.

With a runner on second and two outs in the seventh frame, the Rangers opted to pitch to Suzuki, who slapped a base hit to left-center to bring in Jack Wilson for an added insurance run.

Vargas only had a pair of 1-2-3 innings, but he stranded a runner in scoring position in the first, fourth and fifth frames.

"We could've had all the approach we wanted to have tonight, [Vargas] was hitting dots out there. He was doing exactly what he wanted to do with that baseball," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

The Rangers finally got to the lefty in the eighth, as Julio Borbon singled, stole second and scored on Ian Kinsler's double down the left-field line.

Wright entered with two outs and Kinsler on third and walked Michael Young before inducing a fielder's choice grounder to short off the bat of Adrian Beltre.

Game Notes

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus went 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 11 games...Lewis posted his second career complete game...Texas returns to Arlington for a nine-game homestand versus the Yankees, Athletics and Angels...Seattle will host the White Sox for three games this weekend.






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