The Ballpark, Frankly, Belongs To The M’S Winners Of Eight Straight At Texas Stadium, Mariners Complete A Sweep Of Rangers

There’s no place like The Ballpark at Arlington for the Seattle Mariners.

They swept a three-game series in the home of the Texas Rangers with a 5-1 victory Wednesday night as Chris Bosio scattered four hits and Edgar Martinez delivered a two-run double.

Seattle is 6-1, matching the franchise’s best record after seven games by the 1984 and 1985 teams. Texas is 1-12 in its last 13 against Seattle.

Texas has dropped eight consecutive games to Seattle at The Ballpark.

“We got a four-run first and made it hold up with good pitching,” manager Lou Piniella said. “Our starting pitching has been outstanding, and we have power and speed. I’m pleased with the way things are going.”

Piniella added, “I felt coming out of spring training this would be a competitive division with some good teams. There’s more experience here, and we’re right there with the rest of the teams.”

A crowd of 17,375 fans, smallest in the two-year history of the new stadium, watched the game.

Bosio (2-0) lasted five-plus innings, giving up only four hits and walking two. The Rangers’ only run off Bosio came on a 408-foot homer by rookie Benji Gil in the third inning.

“My game is to throw the ball over the plate and take my chances,” Bosio said. “No messing around with two- and three-ball counts. With the way our defense is playing, I just need to keep the ball down and let them put it in play. It’s nice to come in here and beat them three straight.”

The Mariners hammered Roger Pavlik (0-1) for four runs in the first. Darren Bragg singled, Joey Cora walked and Ken Griffey Jr. beat out an infield single, loading the bases. Jay Buhner produced a broken-bat single to left to score one run, and Martinez doubled in two more before Tino Martinez scored a fourth on a sacrifice fly.