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Seattle Mariners

Mariners Log: James Paxton takes it on the chin, M’s lose big

Texas Rangers’ Carlos Gomez, center, is congratulated in the dugout by Delino DeShields (3) after hitting a three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the sixth inning of Texas’ 10-4 win on June 16, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press)

RANGERS POUND OUT 13 HITS TO TAKE FIRST OF SERIES

What happened: Carlos Gomez went 2 for 5 with a homer and four RBIs and the Texas Rangers pounded James Paxton and the Seattle Mariners 10-4 in the first of a three-game weekend series on Friday at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas.

Paxton was not sharp. His velocity was down (92-93) and had neither sharp command or control, walking three in his 3 2/3 innings. Paxton gave up seven runs – all earned – on seven hits and the three walks with four strikeouts.

Texas right-hander Tyson Ross, signed in January as a free agent, made his first big-league appearance in more than 14 months. He made just one start last season for San Diego before undergoing thoracic outlet surgery on his shoulder. Ross allowed two runs on two hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings.

Jarrod Dyson hit his fourth home run of the season, extending his career-high once again.

Line Outs

  • Leadoff hitter Ben Gamel walked. With one down Gamel stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Robinson Cano’s grounder to the right side.
  • Paxton gave up a two-out single and walk in a 20-pitch first but got out unscathed.
  • After a quick second inning, the Rangers got to Paxton in the third. With one down, Paxton issued back-to-back walks to Delino DeShields and Shin-Soo Choo, followed by a double by Elvis Andrus to plate DeShields. Adrian Beltre then hit a line-drive single to right to score Choo.
  • Carlos Gomez struck out after an eight-pitch at-bat, then Rougned Odor ripped one into the right-field corner to set up second and third with two down. Jonathan Lucroy bounced one through the left side and both runners scored without a throw to make it 5-1.
  • Robinson Chirinos led off the fourth with a home run off Paxton. DeShields followed with a line-drive single and stole second. Paxton got Choo to fly out and K’d Andrus and at 91 pitches, manager Scott Servais came out with the hook. Tony Zych hit Beltre with a 2-1 slider, then Gomez doubled to left to plate DeShields and close the book on Paxton.
  • M’s got one back in the sixth. Gamel led off with a walk and went to second on Cano’s groundout for the second out of the inning. Nelson Cruz lined a single to center and the throw home was cut off, allowing Gamel to slide home safely.
  • Reliver Zac Curtis had a bad go of it in his Mariners’ debut in the sixth. With one down, Choo singled. Andrus popped out, but Beltre walked, then Gomez crushed one to straight center for a three-run bomb and 10-2 lead.
  • An unlikely source of power, Jarrod Dyson smacked his fourth homer of the season in the seventh, once again setting a personal season high.

The Takeaway

Paxton did not look good. His velocity was down, he had no control of his breaking ball and no command of the fastball, resulting in a lot of hard swings at meaty fastballs down the middle. He was stellar in his first outing after coming off the D.L., but it’s been a mediocre and now poor start to follow up.

Tweet of the Day

Players of the game

Hero: Jarrod Dyson. Pickings were slim. Love his line-drive home run swing.

Goat: Zac Curtis. His M’s debut went badly. Three runs on four hits and a walk over three innings. Expect him to get shipped out in the morning.

Next Game

The Seattle Mariners (33-36) vs the Texas Rangers (33-33) on Saturday at 5:05 p.m. at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. RHP Yovani Gallardo vs. LHP Martin Perez (2-6, 4.56)

What others are saying (and writing)

Paxton hasn’t been the same since he returned from the disabled list. He says he is healthy, but his timing is off. … The bullpen needs some reinforcements. But where they will come from is hard to determine. … The rotation is close to getting back to full strength, so that should help the pen. … The Rangers have been struggling