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Hernandez powers Mariners over Rangers

May 22, 2012 - 6:09 AM Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Felix Hernandez spun eight innings of one-run ball Monday as the Seattle Mariners downed the Texas Rangers, 6-1, in the opener of a three-game set at Safeco Field.

Hernandez (4-3) scattered six hits and walked two while fanning seven. Ichiro Suzuki and Jesus Montero knocked in two runs apiece and Dustin Ackley also plated a run as the Mariners won their fourth straight contest.

Yu Darvish (6-2) allowed five runs -- four earned -- on just four hits, but walked a career-high six batters over four full frames, marking the shortest outing of his brief major league career.

"He had good velocity. He just didn't throw the ball in the strike zone. It's one loss, we'll move on," Rangers manager Ron Washington said about Darvish. "You just need to take it, move on and learn what you can."

Mitch Moreland provided the offense with his solo blast in the eighth, but the Rangers lost for the third time in five tries.

Seattle jumped in front in their first at-bat as Michael Saunders worked a one-out walk and trotted home on Suzuki's triple into the right-field corner.

The Mariners tacked on three more in the third after Brendan Ryan singled to start the inning and Ackley worked a walk.

Suzuki followed two batters later with a flare into shallow left-center field to score Ackley and Saunders before moving to third on Josh Hamilton's throw that wound up in the seats on the third-base line.

Montero then launched a sac fly to center field to score Suzuki and put the Mariners on top 4-0.

Darvish walked the bases loaded in the fourth before Ackley singled to make it a five-run difference.

Seattle added a run in the seventh when Kyle Seager worked a two-walk before scoring on Montero's double to left to make it a 6-0 contest.

Moreland ended Hernandez's shutout bid with a leadoff blast in the top of the eighth to bring the Rangers within 6-1, but Tom Wilhelmsen closed the door with a perfect ninth.

"It's not easy against this lineup," said Hernandez. "(I was) just making good adjustments, the ball was down in the zone, I was pounding the strike zone and the sinker was pretty good."

Game Notes

Darvish has allowed nine earned runs in two starts against the Mariners, while allowing just 10 earned runs in his seven starts against the rest of the league...The Rangers placed pitcher Neftali Feliz on the 15-day disabled list on Monday with right elbow inflammation...The Rangers won three of four at home versus the Mariners from April 9-12.