Rangers 1 - 0 Mariners
Final
  for this game

Beltre helps Rangers edge M's in 9th

Jun 14, 2014 - 6:31 AM Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Adrian Beltre's RBI grounder in the ninth inning forced in the game's lone run, and the Texas Rangers blanked the Seattle Mariners, 1-0, in the opener of a three-game set on Friday.

Elvis Andrus singled with one out in the ninth off Seattle starter Felix Hernandez (8-2), stole second, then swiped third when Shin-Soo Choo walked.

Mariners closer Fernando Rodney relieved Hernandez with runners at the corners. Beltre bounced one to shortstop Brad Miller, who attempted to turn the inning-ending double play, but Robinson Cano's throw was wide and Andrus crossed home to break the scoreless tie.

Hernandez, coming off a career-high 15 strikeouts against the Tampa Bay Rays in his last start, allowed the lone run on four hits with six strikeouts over 8 1/3 innings.

Seattle has lost four straight after getting swept in a three-game series against the New York Yankees.

Shawn Tolleson (2-1) earned the win after pitching a scoreless eighth inning and Joakim Soria shut the door in the ninth to nail down his 14th save of the season.

Texas starter Nick Tepesch tossed 6 1/3 innings of two-hit ball with five strikeouts.

"I wouldn't say we always find a way but tonight, Tepesch matched (Hernandez's) zeros," said Rangers manager Ron Washington. "That's what it takes."

The game saw a total of six hits, with each starter facing the minimum from the bottom of the first to the bottom of the sixth when the Mariners got something going.

Mike Zunino doubled to lead off the inning and Miller attempted to bunt him over to third, but couldn't get the sacrifice down, eventually striking out.

Cole Gillespie and James Jones each recorded outs in the following at-bats to keep the game scoreless.

"When you don't hit you don't look good," said Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon. "It was just an ugly game all the way around."

Choo reached second with one out in the seventh after a single and a wild pitch by Hernandez. Beltre followed with a groundout and Alex Rios struck out to end the threat.

Seattle had a chance to break it open in the home half of the seventh with runners on first and second and one out. Tepesch was taken out for reliever Jason Frasor, who struck out pinch-hitter Endy Chavez and Dustin Ackley.

Game Notes

Texas had four hits, while Seattle managed only two ... Andrus had two hits ... The Rangers went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, while Seattle went 0-for-5 with RISP.






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