• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Rangers have brooms ready for Mariners

Aug 10, 2011 - 3:11 PM (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers try to continue their recent mastery of the Seattle Mariners this evening when they go for a sweep in the finale of a three-game set at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Texas has dominated the Mariners of late, taking 10 of the 12 meetings between the division rivals this season, including all five of the matchups in Arlington.

That trend has continued in this series and on Tuesday Josh Hamilton hit a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting Texas to a 7-6 win.

The Rangers scored in each of their last three innings to rally from a 6-3 deficit.

Ian Kinsler hit a two-run homer in the seventh and Yorvit Torrealba smacked a game-tying RBI double in the eighth before Hamilton followed Kinsler's walk and Endy Chavez's single with a bloop hit into left-center field for the walkoff win.

Chavez hit a solo homer for the Rangers, who have won five of six overall.

Rangers closer Neftali Feliz (2-3) pitched around a walk in the ninth for the victory, while Jeff Gray (0-1) took the loss in 1 2/3 innings. Gray walked Kinsler to start the ninth, but Aaron Laffey gave up the singles to Chavez and Hamilton.

The Mariners, who are 6-6 since their franchise-worst 17-game losing streak, spoiled a chance for Michael Pineda to earn his 10th win. The rookie right- hander went six innings in his first start since July 30 and left with a 6-3 lead.

Getting the call for the Rangers tonight will be righty Derek Holland, who is 10-4 on the year, but will be trying to bounce back from a rough outing his last time out. The American League's co-leader with four shutouts, Holland was battered by the Cleveland Indians on Friday, as he allowed six runs (four earned) and five hits in just 1 2/3 innings.

Amazingly, he escaped without a decision in his team's 8-7 win.

"I think last time he had that hiccup, he gave us three or four [good starts] before that happened again, so if he can give us three or four before that happens again, I'll be happy," said Texas manager Ron Washington.

Holland, who hadn't allowed a run in his two previous outings, tossed a five- hit shutout to beat the Mariners the last time he faced them and is 4-1 lifetime against them with a 2.89 ERA in eight games, four of which have been starts.

Seattle will counter with lefty Jason Vargas, who is 6-10 with a 4.02 ERA. After losing his five previous starts, Vargas pitched well enough to win on Friday in Anaheim, as he held the Angels scoreless over seven innings. However, he failed to get a decision in his team's 1-0 loss.

"My focus was just pitching down, and for the most part, I did a pretty good job of that, especially with guys on base in scoring position," said Vargas, who is 0-6 with a 5.57 ERA over his last seven starts. "It's a positive. I need to just keep building on that and keep going out there and grinding."

Vargas was on the wrong end of Holland's gem on July 14, giving up five runs and 12 hits over six innings. For his career, Vargas is a mere 2-4 versus the Rangers with a 4.62 ERA in 10 games (eight starts).