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M's break out of offensive funk vs. Rangers

Apr 15, 2014 - 6:54 AM Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - The Seattle Mariners broke out of their offensive funk, riding a big inning to a 7-1 win over the Texas Rangers in the opener of a four-game series at Globe Life Park.

Mike Zunino clubbed a solo home run and added an RBI single during Seattle's six-run sixth that featured three Texas errors and the ejection of Rangers manager Ron Washington for arguing a replay result.

Seattle rookie Roenis Elias (1-1) picked up his first major league win after allowing a run on five hits with two walks in 6 2/3 innings.

Colby Lewis (0-1) gave up four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings in his first start for Texas since July 18, 2012. Lewis, who had his contract purchased from Triple-A Round Rock on Monday, missed time after undergoing surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow and a right hip resurfacing procedure.

"Colby was good. He had a good breaking ball, was able to spot his fastball. Happy to have him back," Washington said.

The game remained scoreless until Zunino's blast to center field with one out in the fifth. His home run ended the Mariners' scoreless drought at 21 1/3 innings.

Robinson Cano opened the decisive sixth with a single and scored when Michael Saunders found the gap in left-center field for a one-out triple.

Kyle Seager, who earlier extended his hitting streak in Arlington to 15 games, followed with a grounder up the middle through the drawn-in infield to plate Saunders.

Pedro Figueroa relieved Lewis, who threw 89 pitches, and Seager went to second on an error that allowed Justin Smoak to reach base. Dustin Ackley then singled sharply to right to score a run. Smoak advanced to third on a fielding error by Alex Rios and scored on Zunino's base hit.

After an infield single by Abraham Almonte loaded the bases, Brad Miller hit a comebacker to Figueroa. The Texas pitcher fielded the ball cleanly and threw to home for a force out. Catcher J.P. Arencibia couldn't complete a double play as he bobbled the ball.

The Mariners challenged the play and video review overturned the call, with Ackley allowed to score, an error charged to Arencibia and Washington quickly tossed by second base umpire Ted Barrett for arguing.

Arencibia was ruled to not have secure control of the ball in his throwing hand upon the transfer.

Cano capped the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly.

"I wasn't trying to do too much and I'm just happy after that we were able to continue to have good at-bats and able to tack on the next inning," Zunino said.

Kevin Kouzmanoff had an RBI single for Texas in the seventh.

Game Notes

Smoak snapped an 0-for-14 slump with second-inning single ... The Mariners improved to 7-0 when hitting a home run ... Texas had a 12-7 record against Seattle last year ... Saunders wasn't in the starting lineup. He replaced Logan Morrison (hamstring) in right field prior to the bottom of the first ... Texas designated pitcher Daniel McCutchen for assignment to make room on the active roster for Lewis.