Aurilia’s heroics send Mariners to win over Rangers

SEATTLE — Rich Aurilia hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning and Joel Pineiro won his third straight decision, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 4-3 victory over the A.L. West-leading Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.

The last-place Mariners broke a seven-game losing streak against the Rangers, who lost for only second time in 11 games. Both defeats have been by one run.

Trailing 3-1, the Mariners went ahead with three runs in the sixth. Jolbert Cabrera doubled, went to third on Edgar Martinez’s single and scored on Bret Boone’s sacrifice fly. Then Aurilia homered 409 feet to left, his fourth home run of the season, off Joaquin Benoit (2-3).

Pineiro (4-8) pitched seven innings and gave up three runs — two earned — on five hits and two walks, with a season-high nine strikeouts. He is 3-0 in four starts since a seven-game losing streak.

Shigetoshi Hasegawa pitched a scoreless eighth for the Mariners and Eddie Guardado pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save in 19 opportunities.

The Rangers took a 2-0 lead in the third when Jason Conti doubled, Michael Young tripled and Pineiro threw a wild pitch to allow Young to score.

Texas got an unearned run in the fourth to go ahead 3-0 after David Dellucci reached first on an error by first baseman John Olerud. Olerud was jarred by third baseman Scott Spiezio when he attempted to catch Dellucci’s pop fly on the mound. Gary Matthews’ ground-rule double moved Dellucci to third and he scored on Rod Barajas’ sacrifice fly.

Benoit pitched 52/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk, with two strikeouts.