Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rangers Pound Moyer, Down Mariners 8-2

Associated Press

Ken Hill pitched seven strong innings and Ivan Rodriguez and Juan Gonzalez homered as the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 8-2 Thursday night.

Seattle’s Joey Cora extended his hitting streak to 24 games, barely beating out an infield single with two outs in the ninth. His hitting streak is the longest by an A.L. switch-hitter and the longest in team history.

Hill (4-2) did not allow an earned run, giving up six hits. He walked four and struck out two.

Rodriguez hit his fourth homer of the season in the first inning. Gonzalez led off the fourth with his ninth homer, tying it at 2.

The Rangers, who had lost five straight to the Mariners and 21 of their last 24 games played in Seattle, took the lead in the sixth on Mike Devereaux’s RBI single off shortstop Alex Rodriguez’s glove.

Texas broke open the game with five runs in the seventh, chasing Jamie Moyer (4-2). Third baseman Brent Gates’ throwing error gave the Rangers their fourth run, Will Clark and Dean Palmer followed with RBI doubles, Bill Ripken had a sacrifice fly and Benji Gil singled in a run.

The Mariners scored two unearned runs in the first for a 2-1 lead. Jay Buhner singled in two runs after Gil mishandled Ken Griffey Jr.’s ground ball to shortstop with two outs. Seattle loaded the bases when Edgar Martinez and Rodriguez followed with singles.

Notes

Tim Davis, the 26-year-old 5-foot-11 left-hander whose major league career in Seattle has been potholed by injuries, will undergo major surgery next week and have a ligament from his right forearm transplanted into his left arm. This is the third straight season he will be sidelined.

“Last year it was a broken leg, two years ago a bad shoulder,” Davis said. “It’s strange because I’ve never been injury prone. It’s not like I throw 95 miles an hour.”

Davis made two appearances this season before pain in his left forearm sidelined him, and last week doctors in Los Angeles ran him through a battery of tests and found a problem no amount of rest could heal.

Mike Blowers will be limited to pinch-hitting duties for a few days to rest his left knee, which became tender after a week in which he played nearly every day for the first time since undergoing surgery last August. Blowers came out of the game Wednesday after feeling a sharp pain in the knee, but tests determined there was no damage - just pain that came from the stress of playing time. “They said it’s stronger and will come back faster and be stronger after a few days’ rest,” Blowers said… . Lee Tinsley has begun hitting off a tee and throwing again, testing the right elbow that underwent arthroscopic surgery nearly a month ago. The tentative schedule is for him to begin a rehabilitation assignment next week, probably in Tacoma.