Ty France hit a two-run homer with one out in the top of the 11th inning as the Seattle Mariners defeated the Texas Rangers 9-8 Thursday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.
The Rangers, who rallied from a five-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings, scored once in the bottom of the 11th on Brock Holt’s two-out single, but Andy Ibanez flied out to deep center field for the game’s final out.
Mitch Haniger added a three-run homer for the Mariners, who swept the three-game series with their American League West rivals.
Seattle built a 6-0 lead before the Rangers rallied, scoring once each in the fifth and sixth innings before a five-run ninth, capped by Jason Martin’s three-run homer off right-hander Diego Castillo with two outs to tie the score at 7-7.
Adolis Garcia also homered for Texas.
Joe Smith (2-1) pitched a scoreless 10th for the victory and fellow right-hander Paul Sewald worked the 11th for his sixth save of the season.
Rangers right-hander Joe Barlow (0-1) took the loss.
The Mariners jumped out to an early lead as J.P. Crawford and Haniger led off the first with singles. Kyle Seager lined a run-scoring double to right and Haniger scored on France’s groundout.
In the second, Haniger hit a three-run shot after a Jake Bauers single and a walk to Crawford.
Seattle extended the lead to 6-0 in the third off right-hander Drew Anderson. France led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch and Abraham Toro lined a run-scoring single to right.
The Rangers finally broke through in the fifth. DJ Peters led off with a single and, an out later, Ibanez grounded a single into center. Peters took third on center fielder Jake Fraley’s error. Martin brought home the unearned run with a sacrifice fly to right.
Garcia hit a one-out solo shot homer to right in the sixth inning.
The Mariners added an insurance run on Seager’s bases-loaded walk in the eighth.
Mariners starter Chris Flexen allowed two runs — one earned — on four hits in seven innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out five.
Texas right-hander Spencer Howard lasted just two innings. He gave up five runs on five hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
–Field Level Media