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Rangers top Mariners to take series

Apr 18, 2014 - 1:02 AM Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Mitch Moreland had three RBI to help the Texas Rangers to an 8-6 win over the Seattle Mariners in the finale of a four- game set.

J.P. Arencibia picked up two RBI and Kevin Kouzmanoff hit two doubles and drove in one for the Rangers, who took the last three of the four-game series. Shin-Soo Choo was 2-for-5 with a home run.

Texas starter Tanner Scheppers was touched for six runs on six hits over 2 1/3 innings. Pedro Figueroa (2-1) picked up the win after throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Joakim Soria earned his second save of the season setting down the side in order in the ninth.

Robinson Cano blasted a three-run homer and Dustin Ackley went 2-for-4 with a two-run double for the Mariners, who have lost five of six. Corey Hart added a solo home run, while going 2-for-3 with a double.

"Anytime you lose a series it's frustrating," Hart said. "It didn't matter if it's the first three or the last three but they got the hits when they needed them and they got the outs when they did and we weren't able to do that."

Mariners starter Erasmo Ramirez exited after two-plus innings and being knocked around for five runs on six hits. Joe Beimel (0-1) allowed two runs in his lone inning of work to pick up the loss.

With the game tied 6-6 in the fifth, Moreland led off with a walk before Donnie Murphy singled to left field for Texas. With runners at first and second, Leonys Martin laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners. Arencibia then grounded out to score Moreland. Beimel threw a wild pitch with Choo at the plate and allowed Murphy to round out the scoring.

The relievers for Texas threw 6 2/3 scoreless frames to aid in the victory.

"The bullpen was outstanding," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "I mean the job that (Hector) Noesi did and Figueroa and (Jason) Frasor and (Alexi) Ogando and then Soria. We needed to piece it together and those guys got the job done for us."

In the bottom of the first the Rangers put up three runs. Elvis Andrus hit a double to left field and Prince Fielder drew an intentional walk, which was followed by an RBI double for Kouzmanoff. Moreland then singled up the middle to plate Fielder and Kouzmanoff.

The Rangers extended their lead to 4-0 in the second when Choo hit a solo blast, his first homer since joining Texas this offseason.

The Mariners offense exploded in the third. Abraham Almonte hit a leadoff single, then Brad Miller walked, setting the table for Cano to smash a three- run homer, his first in a Seattle uniform. Hart made it back-to-back blasts, following Cano with a solo shot.

Nick Franklin was walked before a Justin Smoak single gave the Mariners runners on the corners. Noesi, who replaced Scheppers, inherited Franklin and Smoak, who both scored after Ackley ripped a double to center. Seattle led 6-4 after Noesi sat down the next two batters, heading to the bottom of the third.

Moreland and Arencibia scored a run each in the third with a double and fielder's choice, respectively, to tie the game.

Game Notes

Seattle went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position, compared to the Rangers who went 4-for-14 with RISP ... Texas left nine men on base and the Mariners had eight LOB ... Texas leads the all-time series 289-275 against Seattle.