The Seattle Mariners were hoping to make a statement in Friday night's opener against the Texas Rangers, but were doomed by a huge inning in a 9-3 loss.
The Rangers got things going right away in the bottom of the first inning, as Ian Kinsler hit a ball that was reviewed and ruled to be a home run. Texas made it 2-0 in the third inning when Josh Hamilton belted his 42nd home run of the season.
Jesus Montero hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth to cut the Rangers lead in half, but the close game evaporated in the eighth inning. Hamilton hit an RBI double and scored on a throwing error by Dustin Ackley, pushing the score to 4-1. Geovany Soto hit a two-run double to make it 6-1 and Elvis Andrus hit a bases-clearing three-run triple to cap off the seven-run eighth inning for the Rangers.
Michael Saunders led off the top of the ninth inning with his 15th home run of the year and Montero hit an RBI single, but the damage had already been done.
Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma went 5.1 innings and allowed just two runs on seven hits and a walk, but the Mariners bullpen proved extremely fallible in that crucial eighth inning.
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