SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners were one strike away from winning their second straight game over the AL West-leading Texas Rangers.
Then closer Steve Cishek allowed a tying homer to Prince Fielder in the ninth inning and Rougned Odor homered off Mike Montgomery in the 11th to give Seattle a crushing 2-1 loss to Texas on Saturday night.
The Mariners were shut down by starter Colby Lewis, who allowed Adam Lind’s homer and not much else. Lewis gave up three hits and struck out three over eight innings.
“It was a well-played game, a well-pitched game,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Colby had our number, kept us off balance all night. Couldn’t get much going offensively other than the Lind home run, but you know they’re tough when you get that close at the end.”
James Paxton had his best outing of the season since being called up to replace injured Felix Hernandez. The left-hander threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two walks and six hits with six strikeouts.
Lind’s solo homer in the fifth looked like it would hold, but the Mariners couldn’t get the 27th out cleanly. After working a full count, Fielder crushed a sinker left up over the plate into the right-field seats to send the game to extra innings.
Odor’s blast into the right-field seats off Montgomery (2-1) gave the Rangers their first lead of the night.
Matt Bush (2-0) picked up the victory in relief, and Sam Dyson got his ninth save.
“We just didn’t do much offensively tonight,” Servais said. “Hoping it was enough. Just couldn’t get it done with the final out in the ninth inning.”
Paxton got in trouble after walking the first two batters in the fourth inning. A groundout ball from Odor hit baserunner Nomar Mazara in the heel to record the first out of the inning. A fielder’s choice by Ryan Rua and a strikeout of Fielder stranded Ian Desmond at third base to keep the game scoreless.
“Just need to keep on locating the fastball,” Paxton said. “Used the cutter pretty well tonight. Threw a few changeups that got some outs also.”
TRADE FINALIZED
The Mariners sent RHP Justin De Fratus to the Texas Rangers as the player to be named later in a trade from May 29 for 3B/OF Patrick Kivlehan. De Fratus, 28, was signed by Seattle on Dec. 2, 2015. With Triple-A Tacoma, De Fratus was 2-2 with a 3.21 ERA in 19 relief appearances.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: Hernandez is feeling better but still in a walking boot due to a strained calf suffered two weeks ago. He had another MRI on Friday but is still not close to a return. Manager Scott Servais said Hernandez will need more than a couple bullpen sessions to build his arm back up given the time he’s missed already, and there’s no set timetable at this point.
UP NEXT
Rangers: LHP Cole Hamels (5-1, 3.32 ERA) allowed just two runs on four hits over seven innings in his only start against Seattle this season, on opening day. Hamels is 0-1 with a 4.82 ERA over his last three starts, which matches his longest winless streak as a Ranger. He allowed just two runs on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts in his last outing against Houston.
Mariners: LHP Wade Miley (6-2, 5.27 ERA) is 0-1 with an 8.25 ERA in two starts against Texas this season.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.