Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Justin Smoak belted a three-run homer in his return to the Lone Star State, and the Seattle Mariners held on to beat the Rangers, 7-5, on an evening Texas celebrated its first division title in 11 years.
Texas' first-round pick in 2008, Smoak was dealt to the Mariners in the trade involving pitcher Cliff Lee.
Franklin Gutierrez had two hits, knocked in a run and scored twice for Seattle, which had lost 13 of its last 17 road games. David Pauley (4-8) gave up two runs on eight hits in six innings to win his second straight start.
Nelson Cruz launched a three-run homer and Vladimir Guerrero added a solo shot for the Rangers, who returned home from a 5-5 road trip during which they clinched their first playoff spot and AL West crown since 1999.
Texas raised the division championship flag and unfurled a banner prior to the opener of this three-game set.
The September woes continued for Rangers starting pitcher C.J. Wilson (14-8) after he was tagged for six runs on eight hits over five full frames. The left-hander is winless (0-3) in five outings this month.
Trailing 6-1, Texas pushed home a run in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out single by David Murphy. Cruz trimmed the deficit to one with his 22nd home run of the season.
Elvis Andrus singled off Seattle reliever Anthony Varvaro to begin the seventh and was erased on a fielder's choice. Varvaro gave up a walk to Murphy and struck out Guerrero before Cruz crushed a 1-1 pitch over the left-field wall.
Gutierrez scored on a wild pitch by Texas' Pedro Strop in the eighth to extend Seattle's lead to 7-5.
Garrett Olson was lifted in favor of Jamey Wright after Julio Borbon bunted for a single in the bottom of the inning. Wright, though, got Andrus to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to preserve the two-run cushion.
Brandon League pitched a flawless ninth for his fifth save.
The Mariners jumped out to an early lead with a two-run second inning that featured RBI doubles by Adam Moore and Greg Halman.
Guerrero put Texas on the board with a leadoff blast in the bottom of the frame, but a sacrifice fly by Gutierrez made it 3-1 in the third.
Seattle led by five after former Ranger Smoak went deep in the top of the fifth. Jose Lopez drew a two-out walk and Gutierrez singled before the rookie first baseman deposited a 1-0 offering from Wilson in the left-field seats.
Wright has not allowed a run in his last eight appearances (10 innings)...Smoak finished with three hits...Guerrero has 29 home runs and 112 RBI in 2010...The Rangers fell to 11-6 against the Mariners this season.