A three-run inning was all the Rangers needed to defeat the Mariners 3-0 on Wednesday afternoon in Arlington, Texas, giving Texas a three-game series sweep over slumping Seattle.
A bases-loaded throwing error by Mariners first baseman Connor Joe allowed two runs to score, and Texas added another in the bottom of the fifth against Seattle starter Bryan Woo (0-1).
The Rangers got five scoreless innings from starter MacKenzie Gore (2-0), who allowed one hit and struck out nine with two walks. Then, their bullpen finished off the Mariners with four scoreless innings: two for Chris Martin, one for Luis Curvelo and the ninth inning for Cole Winn, who earned his first career save.
The Mariners managed just three runs total in the series despite good pitching. Seattle lost its fifth straight game and seventh in its last eight.
Seattle has been shut out three times in that eight-game stretch and has not scored more than three runs in any of those games.
The Rangers have had a season of streaks thus far. After winning four straight, they lost four in a row and have now won three consecutive games.
In the decisive fifth inning, Texas got three straight singles from Danny Jansen, Josh Smith and Ezequiel Duran. Then, Brandon Nimmo hit a slow chopper to first base, which Joe fielded but threw high to home plate and over catcher Mitch Garver in an attempt to get a force out.
The error resulted in two runs, and Corey Seager added a sacrifice fly before the inning was over.
Seattle was held to just two hits in the game. But right fielder Rob Refsnyder robbed a home run from Smith in the bottom of the third inning, leaping at the wall to make a catch on the run just before reaching the foul pole.
