SEATTLE — Randy Arozarena had a one-out bases-loaded single within the ninth inning to offer the Seattle Mariners a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night time, spoiling the return of Max Scherzer.
Victor Robles doubled and stole third, and Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh walked earlier than Arozarena hit a pointy floor ball off Jose Leclerc (6-5) that acquired by shortstop Josh Smith to attain Robles.
Arozarena has 4 profession walk-off hits — three singles and a house run. His single Saturday night time got here on an 0-2 rely.
“The primary two pitches, I used to be actually simply attempting to hit a house run,” Arozarena mentioned by way of interpreter Juan Rodriguez. “Took some massive swings, however then after that, I shortened it up for the third one, actually specializing in making contact, and was in a position to take action.”
With Houston’s victory over the Los Angeles Angels, the Mariners remained 4½ video games again within the AL West standings, and are 2½ video games behind the Minnesota Twins for the ultimate AL wild-card playoff spot.
“We have performed numerous one-run video games throughout this stretch and we have come out on high of numerous them,” Mariners supervisor Dan Wilson mentioned. “We have come out the opposite facet, it feels rather a lot higher to get on high of these one-run video games and tonight was no exception. It does put together you for what could also be forward, however we simply take it clearly one night time at a time.”
Andres Munoz (3-6) pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory.
Josh Rojas gave the Mariners the lead with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly within the second, however Leody Taveras put Texas forward with a two-run blast to proper discipline off Logan Gilbert within the third.
Rodriguez hit a 446-foot dwelling run to left discipline off Scherzer within the third to tie it, his sixth consecutive hit and second 400-foot homer in as many video games. RodrÃguez had two hits on the night time, and now has seven hits within the Mariners’ previous three video games.
Since Aug. 28, RodrÃguez is hitting .353.
“Everyone is aware of when Julio goes very well, we’re a extremely, actually good workforce. Fully totally different,” Gilbert mentioned. “So it is enjoyable to see what he is doing. I do know he is all the time had the boldness and composure it doesn’t matter what’s occurring, so it says rather a lot about him, particularly at his age.”
Gilbert struck out seven batters over six innings of labor, with 4 earned runs and 6 hits given up.
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Scherzer was activated from the injured record earlier than the sport after being sidelined since July 30 due to shoulder issues. He pitched 4 innings, giving up two earned runs and 5 hits with two strikeouts.
Marcus Semien gave the Rangers the lead within the high of the fifth with a two-run homer, however Luke Raley tied it once more with a two-run blast within the backside half off Jack Leiter, his career-high twentieth of the season.
Leiter pitched 4 innings in aid, giving up two earned runs and three hits, with six strikeouts.
Robles stole two bases on the night time for Seattle. He’s 25-for-25 in stolen-base makes an attempt since becoming a member of the workforce June 5, and has swiped third base 11 occasions.
“How a lot is their aggressive baserunning part of tonight? Yeah, we’ve to do a greater job,” Rangers supervisor Bruce Bochy mentioned. “Yeah, that is on the pitchers. You realize, be just a little faster and watch them. We knew that coming into the sport and put us in a tricky scenario there.”
The Mariners are 14-1 when carrying their Metropolis Join uniforms.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
