Rangers 6 - 3 Mariners
Final
  for this game

Rangers top Mariners

Apr 27, 2014 - 6:49 AM Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Mitch Moreland lifted the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, as the Texas Rangers defeated the Seattle Mariners, 6-3, in the middle installment of a three-game set.

Michael Choice, Elvis Andrus, Prince Fielder and Robinson Chirinos each drove in a run, and Leonys Martin scored twice for the Rangers, who have won four of their last five.

Aaron Poreda (1-0) earned the win after surrendering just one hit with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings. Starter Colby Lewis spun five-plus innings, giving up three runs on five hits with six strikeouts and three walks.

"I think he threw 10 or 13 pitches in two innings," Texas manager Ron Washington said of Poreda. "It helped us. It helped us tremendously that he gave us those two innings."

Joakim Soria pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save of the season.

Kyle Seager and Michael Saunders both stroked solo home runs for Seattle, which had a two-game win streak disrupted. Charlie Furbush (0-2) was tagged with the loss after failing to record an out, while giving up a run in the eighth.

Starter Felix Hernandez had a no-decision after allowing three runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts in six innings.

"He just seemed to elevate some balls," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said of Hernandez. "He just proved that he's human. It happens."

Fielder was hit by a pitch to start off the eighth for Texas. Yoervis Medina replaced Furbush on the mound and gave up a single to Adrian Beltre before Alex Rios grounded into a force out that put runners on the corners. Fielder hustled home on Moreland's sacrifice fly to left to give the Rangers a 4-3 lead.

Texas added insurance runs in the ninth. Martin got aboard with a lead-off single off Joe Beimel and moved to second on Chirinos' sac bunt. Martin advanced to third on Choice's groundout and came home on a wild pitch.

Andrus' line drive down the left-field line was ruled a ground-rule double after a fan interfered on the play. Fielder came up next and brought Andrus around with a single.

Saunders drove a full-count, four-seam fastball into the center-field seats to lead off the game for Seattle.

Hernandez escaped the second by fanning Donnie Murphy and Martin to leave two runners in scoring position.

The Mariners added another run to their lead in the second. Seager drove the third pitch he saw for a solo shot to make it a 2-0 game.

Seattle took a 3-0 lead in the fourth. Seager and Justin Smoak both hit line- drive singles and Dustin Ackley walked to load the bases. Mike Zunino's sacrifice fly to right brought Seager home.

The Rangers responded the next inning by tying the game. Moreland, Murphy, and Martin all singled to load the bases. Hernandez walked Chirinos to bring in the first run. Choice's single and Andrus' sacrifice fly to right both drove in runs to make it a 3-3 game.

Game Notes

The rubber match of the three-game set will be decided on Sunday ... Corey Hart returned to the Seattle lineup after leaving Friday night's game when he was hit on his surgically repaired left knee ... Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano extended his hitting streak to six games ... Seattle was 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.






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