Rangers Beat Mariners
ARLINGTON, Texas — There’s no slowing down Adrian Beltre.
The 37-year-old Texas third baseman homered, doubled and knocked in five as the Texas Rangers took the opener of their American League West showdown with Seattle 7-3 Friday night.
Beltre blasted a three-run homer in the first and then added a two-run double in the third to give the Rangers and Yu Darvish more than enough run support.
Beltre matched his season high with the five RBIs and now has three home runs in his last seven games.
Despite his gaudy numbers, Beltre was quick to deflect attention away from himself on a night the Rangers had 13 hits and chased Seattle starter Taijuan Walker (2-6) after five innings.
“We’re just trying to do whatever we can do to at least score one more than the other team,” Beltre said. “The bottom line is winning, that’s what we care about. Obviously we want everybody to be on the same page and hit the ball well the whole season, but that’s not going to happen.”
It happened Friday though as Beltre quickly gave Darvish some support with his 10th homer of the season. The Mariners got a run back in the top of the third off Darvish, but Beltre’s double to right-center in the bottom of the third extended the Texas lead to 5-1.
That was more than enough support for Darvish, who wasn’t as sharp
as he was in his first start since returning from Tommy John surgery, but still managed to pitch 5 2/3 innings while allowing three runs and striking out five.
“Compared the last outing, the first outing I felt a little better,” Darvish said. “Today I got the key outs when I needed. Overall it went well. I had run support early. So when a runner was on second and third, them (the Mariners) scoring one run it is what it is. I was trying to get the guy out that was at-bat.”
Texas extended the lead to 6-1 on a solo homer from Jurickson Profar in fourth inning. The Mariners got to Darvish for runs in the fifth on an RBI grounder from Luis Sardinas and the sixth on a run-scoring single from Kyle Seager but could do no more.
The Mariners were just 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position despite their nine hits.
“We had a hard time getting the game going, on the mound and getting in any rhythm and giving our offense a chance,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “(We) didn’t pitch particularly well, and that’s a good team over there.”
The Rangers had 14 hits, with centerfielder Ian Desmond collecting a season-high four. He had plenty of company as five Rangers had multi-hit games. Rookie Nomar Mazara, who was one of four Rangers with two hits, capped the scoring with an RBI single in the sixth inning.
Texas did most of its damage against Walker, who gave up a season high in earned runs and nine hits. He walked four and threw 107 pitches in his five innings.
“The first three innings, just no intensity,” Walker said of his start. “I was kind of feeling my way through, I guess. I need to pump it in there like my last inning. Being intense and going out there and going right after them with convictions. I’m not really doing that my last couple starts. I’ve really got to just get out there and get after it from pitch one.”
Seager, Dae-Ho Lee and Steve Clevenger each had two hits for Seattle.
