Torrens' 9th-inning single sends Mariners over Rangers 2-1

article

SEATTLE - Luis Torrens hit a ninth-inning single to score the winning run, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 2-1 on Wednesday night.

It was the Mariners’ major league-leading 38th one-run game, 24 of them wins.

Jarred Kelenic drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game 1-all in the sixth inning.

The rookie then doubled off Dennis Santana (1-2) to begin the ninth, moved to third on Jake Fraley’s one-out single and scored on Torrens’ drive to the wall in right-center.

"That's what we need, that kind of energy ... and that was the difference today," Torrens said of the rookie center fielder's hustle play.

Asked if there was any chance he was going to pull up, Kelenic said: "Negative. (I thought) I've got to get to second and put some pressure on them."

Drew Steckenrider (4-2) pitched the ninth for the win. Four relievers combined to give up just one hit over 3 2/3 innings to keep the Mariners in it.

"It hasn't been easy, but our pitching certainly has given us a chance," Mariners manager Scott Servais said.

The Rangers have lost seven of eight after snapping a 14-game road losing streak Tuesday night against the Mariners.

Seattle starter Taylor Anderson gave up one run and six hits in 5 1/3 innings in his first home game with the Mariners since being acquired from Pittsburgh. But the Mariners couldn’t get anything going against Spencer Howard and Taylor Hearn, Texas starters who’ve been paired together for several weeks.

Howard struck out three while giving up two hits in three innings. Hearn lasted four innings as manager Chris Woodward prepares him to return to the rotation next week. He allowed just two hits and struck out three, but hurt himself with four walks.

Hearn hit J.P. Crawford with a pitch to start the sixth, then after two pop outs, gave up a single and a nine-pitch walk to Abraham Toro. A four-pitch walk to Kelenic tied the game. It was the second game in a row a Texas pitcher walked in the tying run late.

"There was a lot of pressure there," Woodward said of Hearn, "and he just couldn't execute the pitch."

Nathaniel Lowe doubled to lead off the second and scored on D.J. Peters sacrifice fly to put Texas up 1-0 in the second.

MARTINEZ STATUE

Edgar Martinez and Ken Griffey Jr. are together again after the Mariners unveiled a new statue of Martinez on Wednesday just a few yards away from the one commemorating Griffey outside T-Mobile Park. Martinez and Griffey are the Mariners’ only Hall of Fame members.

The bronze statue, like Griffey’s created by artist Lou Cella, captures Martinez mid-swing and recreates the designated hitter’s iconic double to win Game 5 of the 1995 AL Division Series over the Yankees, Seattle’s deepest run in the playoffs.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: LHP John King (right shoulder inflammation) pitched a scoreless inning Tuesday night for Triple-A Round Rock in his first rehab outing. He gave up a single and issued a walk. He’ll travel with the team to Oklahoma City to make his next appearance later this week. King has been on the injured list since July 7.

UP NEXT

Rangers: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (2-10, 5.77) will close out the series on Thursday afternoon.

Mariners: LHP Marco Gonzales (3-5, 4.73) is 2-0 in his last five starts with a 2.48 ERA.