Subscribe now
Seattle Mariners

Adrian Beltre cheered in possible Texas finale, a 6-1 win vs Mariners

Texas Rangers' Adrian Beltre tips his cap to the Seattle Mariners bench after being relieved at third base during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (Jim Cowsert / Associated Press)
Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas – Adrian Beltre was given a standing ovation when he was removed from what could be his last home game for Texas, just before the Rangers rallied for four runs in the sixth inning to beat the Seattle Mariners 6-1 on Sunday.

The 39-year-old, playing his 21st major league season, struck out twice and is hitting .275 with 14 homers and 61 RBIs. The four-time All-Star, the active hits leader with 3,162, went to third base just after the game became official – his 2,758 appearances at third are second only to Brooks Robinson’s 2,870. Rougned Odor ran out of the dugout and hugged Beltre, entering the game as Jurickson Profar moved from second base to third.

Teammates hugged Beltre as the crowd of 31,269 rose to its feet. He acknowledged the cheers with a tip and wave of his cap, then descended into the dugout to more hugs.

Beltre is in his eighth season in Texas after time with Seattle, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston, and he has not said whether he wants to return for next season. The Rangers finish their season on the road after going 34-47 at home, the second-most home losses since the team moved to Texas, behind 33-48 in 2014.

While Beltre was signing autographs before the game, some fans held up signs pleading with him to stay with the Rangers.

Seattle lost a day after it was eliminated from the postseason contention, extending the longest current playoff drought among the four major U.S. pro sports to 17 years.

Guillermo Heredia’s double in the second put the Marinerse ahead, but the Rangers took a 4-1 lead in the sixth when Nomar Mazara chased starter Wade LeBlanc (8-5) with a two-run double, Robinson Chirinos hit an RBI single off Nick Vincent and Carlos Tocci had a sacrifice fly against James Pazos. Joey Gallo added his 39th homer, a two-run drive in the eighth against Ryan Cook.

Jeffrey Springs (1-1), the second of five Texas pitchers, allowed two hits in two scoreless innings.

Seattle finished its road schedule 44-37, its second-most wins away from home since 2002.