On Thursday, the Seattle Mariners wrapped up their four-game series with the Texas Rangers and their season-opening road trip. The M's came up short in their attempt to split the series, dropping the game by a final score of 5-3. As a result, the Mariners will head into their opening homestand at Safeco Field on Friday with a 4-4 record.
The Rangers got on the board first once again in the bottom of the first inning. Ian Kinsler hit a leadoff single, stole second and came home on a Michael Young single. Young struck again in the fifth inning, hitting his first home run of the year to score Kinsler and himself and stretch the Rangers lead to 3-0.
The M's finally scored in the top of the sixth, as Alex Liddi drove home Brendan Ryan with an RBI single. Seattle closed the gap to 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning as Kyle Seager stayed hot and launched a huge upper-deck home run to right field.
Texas padded their lead for good in the bottom of the seventh as Kinsler doubled home Yorvit Torrealba and Young once again plated Kinsler with an RBI single. Young went 3-for-4 with 4 RBI in the game.
The Mariners would take one last shot at a rally in the ninth inning. Jesus Montero singled with one out and reached second on a fielder's choice. Miguel Olivo brought Montero home with a two-out RBI double, but the score would stand at 5-3 as Michael Saunders grounded out to second base.
Justin Smoak and Casper Wells were the only Seattle starters who went hitless, but no Mariners batter managed a multi-hit game.
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