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Seattle Mariners

Davis’ homer gives Texas 3-2 win over Seattle

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Brandon Morrow, left, receives a visit to the mound by catcher Rob Johnson, right rear, and pitching coach Rick Adair (40) after Morrow gave up a double to Texas Rangers' David Murphy in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, May 14, 2009. The Rangers won 3-2 on a walk off two-run home run given up by Morrow to Chris Davis. (Associated Press)
Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Texas — Chris Davis hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Texas Rangers a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday to complete a three-game sweep. The Rangers didn’t score until Hank Blalock led off the ninth against closer Brandon Morrow (0-3) with a home run into the second deck of right-field stands. After David Murphy’s one-out double, Davis homered to center to give AL West-leading Texas its 10th win in 12 games. Matt Harrison (4-2) threw a five-hitter for his second complete game in a row, though his consecutive scoreless innings streak ended at 22. Felix Hernandez pitched seven shutout innings for Seattle and David Aardsma had a 1-2-3 eighth against the top of the Texas order. Morrow had seven saves and hadn’t blown a chance until Wednesday night, when Blalock hit a two-run double in the 11th for a 6-5 victory. Harrison struck out seven with no walks, but left the mound after his 102nd pitch trailing 2-0. The left-hander threw a four-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox last Friday. The last time Harrison had given up a run was April 27 at Baltimore, when the Orioles scored four times in the first two innings. He finished that game with five scoreless innings, then didn’t allow runs in consecutive appearances against the White Sox. Harrison allowed three hits in the fourth when Seattle got its only runs. He retired 16 of the last 18 batters, hitting one with a pitch and allowing a single by Ichiro Suzuki. Jose Lopez led off the Seattle fourth with a single and moved to third on Adrian Beltre’s double to right-center. Russell Branyan drove home a run with a groundout before Wladimir Balentien had an RBI double. Harrison’s 22-inning scoreless streak matched the one Hernandez had earlier this season, which was two innings shy of the major league high set by Kansas City’s Zack Greinke. Hernandez rebounded from consecutive bad outings, having allowed 12 runs in his previous two starts. The Rangers scored six runs in six innings against him last week, when they ended his scoreless streak. Michael Young had two hits for Texas, singles in the first and sixth. After his first single, Josh Hamilton walked before Hernandez retired 15 of the next 16 batters. Hernandez left after 110 pitches with six strikeouts and two walks. Notes: Harrison’s scoreless streak was the longest for a Texas pitcher since Kenny Rogers tossed 31 consecutive shutout innings in 2005. … The Mariners finished their road trip 1-7. They play their next 10 games at home.