Despite Loss To Seattle, Rangers Head Home After Winning Road Trip
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SEATTLE (AP) - Even after another tough loss, Texas manager Jeff Banister was pleased as his team headed home following a winning road trip.
Delino DeShields hit a tying home run in the eighth inning for Texas, but Seattle newcomer Dae-Ho Lee delivered a two-run, pinch-homer with two outs in the 10th inning off Jake Diekman to give the Mariners a 4-2 victory Wednesday.
"I like the way we played, 4-3 going home, win a series against division foes, I like the way we went about it. I like our approaches at the plate," Banister said. "Offense got going a little bit, so we'll take the 4-3 and go back and go to work in our ballpark."
The right-handed Lee, who spent the last four years in Japan after 11 seasons in his native South Korea, came on to bat for Adam Lind against the left-handed Diekman (0-1). Lee launched an 0-2 fastball deep over the left-field wall for his second homer.
"That pitch needed to be much better. Yeah, that was terrible. Put it right where he could hit it," said Diekman, who had not allowed a run in his first five appearances. "It's our job to come in and get zeros. When we don't do that it sucks. There was zero execution on that pitch. It's mind-boggling right now."
Nelson Cruz reached on a one-out error by second baseman Rougned Odor, but was forced out by Kyle Seager, setting up Lee.
"Two strikes, I knew it was going to be a fastball," Lee said through an interpreter. "I just put it in contact on the middle of my bat."
The Rangers also committed a pair of outfield errors in the third inning, which led to Seattle's first run.
"Our bullpen pitched very well, offense got going, starters continued to throw the ball very well, played clean defense -- I know we had the two mistakes in the outfield," Banister said. "Probably a play that Odor, I know it's hard hit, I bet that's a ball that gets hit up the middle that we make a play on more times than not. But, obviously, don't like how the two walk-offs feel, but to go home 4-3 on your first road trip, I will take that."
The Rangers other walk-off loss was a 4-3 defeat against the Angels in the first game of the trip.
Closer Steve Cishek (1-1) retired six consecutive for the two-inning victory, the Mariners' at home after starting out 0-5.
DeShields brought the Rangers even at 2 in the eighth with a solo homer, his first.
Robinson Cano put Texas in front 2-1 in the fifth with a solo shot, his first home run since April 5. He had been in a 2-for-21 slump before connecting.
The Rangers manufactured a run in the third with the aid of two contested calls. DeShields beat out a deep throw from Seager at third for an infield single. The Mariners challenged, but the on-field call was upheld after a review of nearly 4 minutes.
Nomar Mazara bounced into an apparent 4-6-3 double play, but DeShields was called safe at second because shortstop Ketel Marte missed the bag on the relay. DeShields then came around on Adrian Beltre's two-out single.
Texas gave the run back in the bottom half when Norichika Aoki's leadoff drive went off the glove of left fielder Ian Desmond for a two-base error and Seth Smith followed with a single to make it 1-all.
SOLID STARTS
Although neither was around at the finish, both starters pitched effectively. A.J. Griffin making his second start for Texas after missing two seasons following Tommy John surgery, allowed two runs -- one earned -- on three hits and four walks in five innings. Texas starters are 5-1 with a 2.85 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 10 games.
Seattle's Taijuan Walker allowed one run on five hits, striking out four and walking two.
CLAUDIO DEBUT
Rangers left-hander Alex Claudio, called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Round Rock, pitcher 1 2/3 scoreless innings, although he gave up three hits. To make room for Claudio, who 33 relief appearances with Texas over the last two seasons, the Rangers sent right-hander Phil Klein to Round Rock.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: RHP Yu Darvish, on the 60-day disabled list following Tommy John surgery, threw his first live batting practice session on Wednesday morning in Arlington, Texas. Darvish threw 30 pitches, 15 in each of two innings, against two members of the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
With one out in the sixth, Lind mishandled Beltre's bouncer to first, but recovered in time to flip to Walker covering for the out. The call was overturned after a review of about 35 seconds and Lind was charged with an error. ... With two outs in the ninth, the Odor was called out at first on chopper to second. The call was upheld after a review of approximately 2 1/2 minutes.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Texas returns home for seven games after seven games on the road. LHP Cole Hamels (2-0, 2.08 ERA) makes his third start Thursday to open the four-game series against Baltimore. He has allowed three runs in 13 innings, striking out 12.
Mariners: After an off-day Thursday, the Mariners open a nine-game road trip with three games against the Yankees in New York. RHP Nathan Karns (0-1, 7.20 ERA) makes his second start.
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