Seattle Mariners self-destruct in first inning of 3-0 loss to Rangers
SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners had a rare chance to unload on Texas starter Yovani Gallardo in the first inning, but sloppy baserunning spoiled their threat.
Adrian Beltre’s two-run, bases-loaded single in the sixth inning put the Rangers ahead, and Seattle never recovered in a 3-0 loss Monday, ending the Mariners’ season-high five-game win streak.
Gallardo (12-9), who has not lost since July 19, held the Mariners to five hits over his 5 1/3 innings. Three relievers did the rest as the Rangers picked up a game on A.L. West-leading Houston. The Astros lost to Oakland 10-9 and now lead the Rangers by two games.
The Mariners put the first three runners on base to open the first before Rangers catcher Bobby Wilson took command.
He caught Ketel Marte trying to steal second and, later, nailed Kyle Seager trying to steal third.
“We didn’t ‘kind of’ run ourselves out of it, we ran ourselves out of it,” Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. “That is something that has plagued us, something we’ve talked about. It’s very frustrating.”
Seager said with two outs, “I was trying to get an aggressive secondary lead to score on a hit. I got a little too much, my momentum was going the wrong way and he picked me off.”
Wilson fired down to shortstop Elvis Andrus, who threw to third for an easy tagout.
“I definitely got some help from Bobby back there,” said Gallardo, who has won five straight decisions. “He did a great job throwing both those guys out. After that, I was able to get in a good rhythm and move the ball to both sides of the plate.”
The Rangers’ go-ahead rally began with Delino DeShields drawing a one-out walk from Roenis Elias (4-8). Shin-Soo Choo followed with a single to center, and Elias then hit Prince Fielder with a pitch, loading the bases.
Beltre worked a full count, then punched a fastball to right, scoring DeShields and Choo.
Marte prevented further damage with a nifty grab of a one-hop grounder to short by Andrus that he turned into a double play.
“When he got contact, I never see the ball,” Marte said. “I see the ball at the last second and that’s it.”
Gallardo shut down the Mariners into the sixth, exiting with one out and one on. Rookie left-hander Andrew Faulkner took over and got two quick outs then a 1-2-3 seventh.
The Rangers added a run in the seventh on consecutive wild pitches by Rob Rasmussen, allowing Rougned Odor to advance to third then home.
Shawn Tolleson finished the ninth to pick up his 30th save in 32 opportunities.
It was the 10th time the Mariners have been shut out.
Brad Miller gave the Mariners their only other scoring opportunity in the fifth with a one-out triple off the center field wall. With the infield drawn in, John Hicks bounced to Andrus, who threw home to catch Miller in a rundown.
Boxscore /B4