Mariners 6 - 7 Rangers
Final
  for this game

Rangers aim to continue dominance of Mariners

Aug 9, 2011 - 2:48 PM

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(Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers have had their way with the Seattle Mariners recently. That doesn't figure to change tonight when Alexi Ogando takes the ball in the middle test of a three-game set at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Texas has dominated the Mariners of late, taking nine of the 11 meetings between the division rivals this season, including all four of the matchups in Arlington.

That was the case in Monday's opener, as Matt Harrison threw seven strong innings and the Rangers backed him with 15 hits, helping Texas to a 9-2 win.

Harrison (10-8) gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings to grab the victory, striking out six without a walk. His 10 wins are a career-best.

Texas became the first team in 2011 to have five different pitchers reach the 10-win mark. It's the first time the Rangers have had five different starters with at least 10 victories (no relief wins), as Harrison joined Ogando, C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis and Derek Holland.

"Ten wins is big for guys," Harrison said. "Normally the guys in rotations, sometimes you have injuries, sometimes they make changes. So far we've been consistent. I'm glad I'm part of the 10-win club. Hopefully we'll keep it going."

Nelson Cruz went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI for the AL West leaders, who won for the fourth time in five games.

Charlie Furbush (2-4) allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits and four walks in four-plus innings.

Seattle has now lost five straight to the Rangers and two straight and three of its last four overall.

Things don't figure to get any easier for the Mariners tonight, as they go up against Ogando, who is 11-5 with a 2.88 ERA. Ogando snapped a two-start losing streak by beating Detroit on Thursday when he allowed two runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He also fanned seven and did not walk a batter.

"Anytime you have adversity in the game of baseball, it helps you," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "If you are a competitor, you'll bounce back. If the game knocks you down and you can't get up, you don't belong here. Ogando is a good one and he's bounced back."

Ogando has faced the Mariners twice this season and is 1-0, while allowing just a one run in 12 innings of those two outings.

Seattle, meanwhile, will counter with an impressive young hurler of its own in rookie Michael Pineda, who is 9-7 with a 3.53 ERA. Pineda hasn't pitched since July 30 when he beat the Tampa Bay Rays, holding them to an earned run and one hit in just 6 1/3 innings. He also struck a career-high 10 batters in the win.

Mariners manager Eric Wedge stated after that start Pineda will likely have extra rest down the stretch in an effort to limit his innings.

"We'll pick spots [to rest him]," Wedge said. "A day here, two days there, that type of deal where we can spread it out a little more. This will be one of his more lengthy breaks."

Pineda has lost both of his starts to the Rangers this season and has pitched to a 4.85 ERA in doing so.






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