ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) ― Leonys Martin had a game-winning RBI single in the ninth inning as the Texas Rangers scored two unearned runs in a two-out rally against Fernando Rodney, beating the Seattle Mariners 3-2 on Wednesday night in a game that started as a battle of aces.
Rodney (0-1) retired the first two in the ninth before Kevin Kouzmanoff’s single that ricocheted off the glove of sliding shortstop Brad Miller and dribbled into the outfield. Mitch Moreland drew a walk before pinch-hitter Donnie Murphy’s grounder was fielded by Miller, whose toss to second base was high. The error allowed Moreland to slide in safely and extended the game.
The tying run came home on a wild pitch by Rodney, who had converted his first three save chances this season. Martin’s sharp single to left gave Texas its fourth victory in the final at-bat at home already this season.
Mariners ace Felix Hernandez struck out nine and had retired 10 in a row before Martin’s leadoff triple in the eighth ended the big right-hander’s night. Hernandez allowed four hits and one run, when Martin scored on a sacrifice fly against pinch-hitter Michael Choice, the first batter for reliever Charlie Furbush.
Yu Darvish struck eight and walked two in seven innings.
Rodney got off to a good start in the ninth, when he got Alex Rios on a flyout and struck out cleanup hitter Prince Fielder.
Martin also had nifty running catch, reaching and lunging with his arm fully extended steps from the center field wall to rob Dustin Ackley of a hit in the sixth.
