Kyle Seager leads Mariners past Rangers
ARLINGTON, Texas — The sight of the Texas Rangers’ pitching staff does wonders for Kyle Seager.
The Seattle third baseman had three hits, including a two-run single that sparked a four-run third inning as the Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 6-2 on Tuesday night.
A career .256 hitter in four seasons, Seager is hitting .329 against the Rangers.
“I’ve always seen the ball pretty well here,” Seager said. “It’s a good park to hit in.”
Robinson Cano, Dustin Ackley and recent call-up Nick Franklin added two hits each as the Mariners, last in the American League in hitting, had every member of the batting order reach base during the first four innings,
That backed the pitching of right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma (3-0), who allowed both runs and six hits through eight innings. Iwakuma had a streak of 17 consecutive scoreless innings end with a home run by Adrian Beltre leading off the second inning that made it 1-0.
Seattle has won two consecutive games for the first time since early May.
“He’s phenomenal,” Seager said of Iwakuma. “He’s got great tempo and seduces ground balls.”
Iwakuma began the year on the disabled list with a torn tendon in his right middle finger and made his first start on May 3. He threw a season-high 99 pitches on Tuesday night.
“I’m not obsessed with going nine innings,” Iwakuma said through a translator. “I want to go out there and do my part, and I feel like I did my part today.”
Rangers manager Ron Washington’s take on the Seattle starter was: “Same Iwakuma. Sinking the ball. Cutting the ball. Hitting his spots. Changing speeds. Working fast. Having early contact.”
Mariners catcher Mike Zunino told manager Lloyd McClendon that he thought Iwakuma was finished after throwing 90 pitches in seven innings. McClendon decided to see what more his starter had, and Iwakuma retired Texas in order in the eighth on nine pitches.
“We’re hoping to get him built up,” McClendon said. “He ran out of gas again.”
The loss in the opener of a two-game set means the Rangers have either lost or split six consecutive series.
Texas’ Colby Lewis (3-3) started on seven days’ rest and allowed five runs on nine hits through six innings, the longest of his seven starts this season. Lewis debuted in the starting rotation in mid-April after missing the previous 21 months following elbow and hip surgeries.
Franklin was called up from Triple-A Tacoma to replace Corey Hart, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list after straining his left hamstring on Sunday. Franklin was leading the Pacific Coast League in hitting.
A Texas lineup that has yet to feature second baseman Jurickson Profar or catcher Geovany Soto this season because of injury played Tuesday without first baseman Prince Fielder and centerfielder Leonys Martin.
The Rangers hoped Fielder would return after sitting out two games because of neck stiffness that was recently attributed to a herniated disk. But after an early batting practice session, Fielder said he wasn’t ready to play. Martin was removed from the original lineup because of stiff neck.
Cano has reached base in 27 consecutive games, a career high for the five-time All-Star who signed with the Mariners as a free agent following nine seasons with the New York Yankees.