Segui's HR Lifts Rangers By M's

David Segui provided the Texas Rangers another ninth-inning victory while taking over the American League batting lead.

Segui hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the ninth inning and had five RBIs Wednesday to lead the Rangers over the Seattle Mariners 7-6.

After being unable to scoop shortstop Royce Clayton's errant throw that led to an unearned run and a 6-5 Seattle lead in the top of the ninth, Segui pulled a fastball into the right-field stands to give Texas its third ninth-inning victory in six games.

"I didn't want to fire him up. I couldn't have felt any worse, but that's what teammates do, they pick you up," said Clayton, who entered the game in the ninth as a defensive replacement.

"I kind of expected him to step up," McLemore said of Segui. "I know that the felt he should have had that ball. It's how he reacts."

Segui, who was 3-for-5, swung when he saw the fastball coming.

"You don't want to take any fastballs for strikes because you're probably not going to get another one. He's uses that to set up his split-finger," Segui said. "Against a guy like that, you can't miss the fastball."

By going 23-for-52 (.442) during a 13-game hitting streak Segui has raised his average 40 points to .387, overtaking Anaheim's Darin Ersted for the league lead. The Angels outfielder's average has dropped from .449 to .378 since May 1.

Rangers reliever John Wetteland (3-1), still seeking his 300th career save, won his third straight game for the first time in his career. He entered with the score tied in the ninth.

Segui's RBI single in the first drove in the Rangers' first run, and then broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run single in the fifth.

Seattle overcame a 5-2 deficit, going ahead after McLemore scored on Clayton's bad throw on Edgar Martinez's two-out grounder. McLemore led the ninth off with a pinch-single.

"With this club, I'm throwing up one half inning and the other half inning I'm doing jumping jacks," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. "I can't be like this all year."

Wetteland was warming up for the chance to get the save when Seattle tied the game at 5 on David Bell's two-run double off Tim Crabtree with two outs in the eighth. Wetteland, who had not pitched since Saturday, still came out to pitch the ninth.

"It was a good comeback for us. We took the lead but we didn't hold it," Mariners manager Lou Pinella said. "Segui's hot, there's no question about it."

Ivan Rodriguez, given a day off from the starting lineup, had a pinch-double as Texas loaded the bases in the eighth. Sasaki ended the threat by striking out Luis Alicea.

After the Mariners opted to intentionally walk Palmeiro to load the bases with one out in the fifth, Segui responded with his two-run single. The Rangers got another run on an error by Seattle third baseman Carlos Guillen.

Texas starter Darren Oliver allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings.

Seattle's eighth-inning rally, which included David Bell's two-run double, allowed former Ranger Aaron Sele to escape without a loss. Sele, who signed with the Mariners as a free agent during the offseason, gave up five runs ad nine hits in seven innings.

The Mariners took a 2-1 lead with a pair of leadoff homers. Edgar Martinez led off the second with his seventh, an opposite-field shot off the right-field pole, and Alex Rodriguez started the fourth with a 418-foot drive to center.

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