• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Vidro homers twice in Mariners rout of Rangers

Apr 16, 2007 - 1:56 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Jose Vidro is starting to feel comfortable in his new role.

A former second baseman turned designated hitter, Vidro hit two home runs and drove in four runs in the Seattle Mariners' 14-6 thrashing of the Texas Rangers.

Adrian Beltre hit a two-run blast - his second in two games - and drove in four runs for Seattle, which pounded out 14 hits and four home runs to open the season with consecutive home series wins for the first time in six years. It beat Oakland two out of three to start the season.

"(Vidro) can be a dangerous hitter," Mariners manager Mike Hargrove said. "He is a good hitter who has some pop, especially from the left side, and he got us off on a good foot, especially after we had fallen behind by two runs in the first inning.

The 33-year-old Vidro, who played with the Washington Nationals last season, was acquired by the Mariners in an offseason trade to be their DH. He started the season 4-for-28 with two RBI before breaking out against Texas starter Brandon McCarthy.

"This was something I definitely needed," Vidro said. "I was off swinging a little bit, but I had a great chat with the hitting coach yesterday. I listened to him and we worked on some things in batting practice and it worked in the game."

The former All-Star hit his first two homers of the season - a solo shot in the first and a two-run blast in the second - to stake the Mariners to a 6-2 lead. He finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored.

"I am still young and think I can still play in the field, but I keep my focus away from that and just concentrate," said Vidro about his switch to the DH role. "I don't quit and hopefully one day I can be back out there."

Beltre had a run-scoring single in the second and a three-run homer in the eighth off Bruce Chen.

Horacio Ramirez (1-0) allowed five runs - one earned - and seven hits in six innings to pick up the win. Ramirez made his first official start after throwing four innings in a game against Boston on April 6 that was halted due to rain.

"I thought I was good," Ramirez said. "I thought I did a good job of staying sharp. I went out and threw a few bullpens and overall I didn't feel the effect at all."

Ichiro Suzuki started the home run barrage for Seattle with a leadoff shot - his first of the year - and finished the game with four hits and the Mariners first stolen base, and stolen base attempt, of the season.

McCarthy (1-2) was rocked for six runs - including three homers - in just two innings for the Rangers.

"The two pitches to Vidro I felt were good pitches," McCarthy said. "But he stayed on them pretty well. Other than that, I felt OK. I was a little sick and a little tired, but once I got out there I was fine."

Sammy Sosa drove in two runs and Ian Kinsler hit his sixth homer for Texas, which has lost two in a row.