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Rangers use late rally to down M's, move to 6-0

Apr 7, 2011 - 12:24 AM Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Mitch Moreland bounced a double down the right-field line to score the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and the Texas Rangers remained undefeated with a 7-3 victory over Felix Hernandez and the Mariners.

Texas swept the three-game series, improving to 6-0 for the first time since opening 1996 with seven consecutive wins.

The Rangers opened the season with a six-game homestand, but will go on the road for nine straight games beginning Friday in Baltimore.

C.J. Wilson (1-0) got the win in this one, giving up three runs -- two earned -- on six hits in seven innings while striking out two and walking two. Arthur Rhodes and Darren O'Day pitched two perfect innings after that.

Nelson Cruz smacked a two-run double in a three-run eighth that put the game away, but the Rangers went homerless for the second game in a row after hitting 13 in their first four.

"This whole homestand, people were talking about homers," said Rangers designated hitter Michael Young. "But pitching and defense got us to where we needed to be, got us six big wins. If we do that, we're going to be in good shape."

Hernandez (1-1) continued to struggle against Texas, taking the loss in seven innings. He allowed four runs -- two earned -- on six hits, striking out six and walking three.

"Their offense is unbelievable," said the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.

Seattle took a 1-0 lead when Jack Cust led off with a single, moved to third base on an error and scored on Brendan Ryan's sacrifice fly. But the Mariners coughed up the lead with an error-filled bottom of the inning.

Second baseman Jack Wilson dropped the ball while trying to turn a double play that would have ended the inning, then threw wide of first base on another play.

The Rangers scored three runs on just two hits in the inning.

Seattle came back to tie it, however, beginning in the fifth when Luis Rodriguez led off with a double, moved to third on Ryan's single and scored on a force out.

Milton Bradley doubled to lead off the sixth and Cust tied the game at 3-3 with a double, poking a pitch down and away in the zone into right-center field.

Moreland slapped a breaking ball down the right field line in the seventh to make it 4-3 Texas, scoring David Murphy, and Cruz doubled off the wall in right-center to score Adrian Beltre and Young in the eighth. The Rangers scored their final run on pitcher Brandon League's throwing error with two outs in the eighth.

Game Notes

Hernandez gave up 20 runs in six games against the Rangers...Mariners catcher Adam Moore was helped off the field after apparently injuring his right leg while scrambling for a ball in the eighth inning. League bounced a pitch that Moore blocked, knocking it into foul territory on the first base side, but it was unclear how exactly he was hurt. Miguel Olivo replaced him behind the plate.