Offense comes alive as Seattle snaps skid

ARLINGTON, Texas – Seattle finally got offensive and snapped a five-game losing streak.

John Jaso hit a two-run homer early, then added an RBI single in the Mariners’ sixth-run eighth against two of Texas’ top two setup relievers. Seattle ended up matching its highest-scoring inning and game of the season in a 10-3 victory over the American League West-leading Rangers.

“It’s definitely good for us to be able to put up some runs, especially late in the game,” said Kyle Seager, whose leadoff double in the eighth was his third hit. “Every once in a while you break out. Any time we can get everybody putting up some good ABs like that, it’s definitely positive.”

The first seven Seattle batters reached in the eighth, on six hits and an error by shortstop Elvis Andrus, against Alexi Ogando and Mike Adams. Ichiro Suzuki then greeted the third Texas pitcher of the inning, Mark Lowe, with a sacrifice fly.

Jaso’s homer in the second put the Mariners ahead to stay. They scored twice with two outs in the fifth for a 4-1 lead after third baseman Adrian Beltre’s throwing error.

“Everybody was going up there with a plan. We had runners on all the bases and guys were going up there with a good approach,” Jaso said. “That is a good feeling right there and a good thing to see. It wasn’t any big swings, jam jobs or stuff like that. It was good, hard-hit balls on the ground.”

Josh Hamilton hit his majors-best 21st homer and drove in all three runs for the Rangers. The slugger was playing despite a sinus infection and upper respiratory problem that kept him out of the lineup the previous night, and even though he said before the game he felt no better.

The Rangers (31-19) had a four-game winning streak ended by their most lopsided loss of the season.

Vargas (6-4) allowed three runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out two and walked three.

That troubled fifth for Scott Feldman (0-3) and the Rangers came at the same time team president Nolan Ryan and general manager Jon Daniels were announcing that Texas had reached a minor league deal with free agent right-hander Roy Oswalt.

“I don’t really have a reaction to it,” said Feldman, who gave up four runs – two earned – over 4 2/3 innings. “I just work here, and do what I’m told to do here.”

Seattle got going in the fifth after a one-out double by light-hitting Brendan Ryan, the No. 9 batter hitting only .176 coming into the game, before Dustin Ackley walked. Alex Liddi then struck out, but both runners advanced on a double steal

The Rangers then intentionally walked Ichiro to load the bases. Jesus Montero hit a grounder wide of third that Beltre fielded in the hole. But his throw sailed high over first baseman Mike Napoli’s head and out of play, allowing two runs.

Hamilton’s two-run homer came in the sixth off Vargas, bumping his majors-best RBIs total to 56 and cutting the gap to 4-3. His grounder in the first pushed home Andrus, who had doubled and advanced on a wild pitch.

Seattle’s big eighth came after Vargas had thrown his last pitch.

“I said ‘Come on. Let’s get some runs guys.’ I proceeded to go put ice on,” Vargas said. “I got to take the ice off before the inning was over, so that’s a good thing.”

Notes

The six runs in the eight matched the most Mariners had scored in an inning this season. The first seven batters reached – on six hits and an error by shortstop Andrus – before Ichiro’s sacrifice fly. … The six runs also equaled the most allowed in an inning by Texas. … Rangers RF Nelson Cruz, who had two outfield assists in the series opener, had another Tuesday night when he made a lunging catch in the seventh and then doubled off Ackley at second base.