ARLINGTON, Texas - 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 lead off 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 out 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.
ORIOLES 3, RAYS 0 Miguel Gonzalez (1-1) and two relievers combined on a six-hitter, and Baltimore capitalized on two infield singles by Adam Jones and beat visiting Tampa Bay.
INDIANS 3, TIGERS 2 Yan Gomes hit a two run triple, Zach McAllister (2-0) allowed 1 run and 4 hits in 6 innings and Cleveland held on for a victory over host Detroit.
ROYALS 6, ASTROS 4 (11) Mike Moustakas homered in the 11th inning to lift visiting Kansas City to a victory over Houston. Danny Duffy (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory and Greg Holland allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless 11th for his fifth save.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
METS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 2 Dillon Gee (1-0) retired his first 14 batters and allowed 3 hits in 7 scoreless innings as New York completed a three-game sweep of host Arizona.
BREWERS 5, CARDINALS 1 Wily Peralta (2-0) allowed 1 run and 6 hits in 6 1/3 innings as Milwaukee avoided a series sweep by visiting St. Louis. Cardinals starter Joe Kelly (1-1) gave up 1 unearned run and 3 hits in 4 innings.
BRAVES 1, PHILLIES 0 Julio Teheran (3-1) pitched a three-hitter, Evan Gattis homered among a career-best four hits, and Atlanta beat host Philadelphia.
NATIONALS 6, MARLINS 3 Jayson Werth’s home run scored three unearned runs against Jose Fernandez and Washington rallied to beat host Miami.
REDS 4, PIRATES 0 Johnny Cueto (1-2) pitched his third career shutout and Joey Votto hit a two-run home run that led Cincinnati over visiting Pittsburgh.
INTERLEAGUE
YANKEES 3-2, CUBS 0-0 Michael Pineda followed an overpowering outing by Masahiro Tanaka with one of his own, pitching six innings of four-hit ball as host New York beat Chicago to complete its first doubleheader shutout sweep since 1987. Tanaka (2-0) struck out 10 and allowed just 2 bunt hits - one replay aided - over 8 innings in a victory in the opener.
Wednesday’s games
NATIONAL LEAGUE Cincinnati 4, Pittsburgh 0 Milwaukee 5, St. Louis 1 NY Mets 5, Arizona 2 Atlanta 1, Philadelphia 0 Washington 6, Miami 3 Colorado at San Diego, (n) LA Dodgers at San Francisco, (n)
AMERICAN LEAGUE Baltimore 3, Tampa Bay 0 Cleveland 3, Detroit 2 Texas 3, Seattle 2 Kansas City 6, Houston 4 (11) Boston at Chicago White Sox, (n) Toronto at Minnesota, ppd., rain Oakland at LA Angels, (n)
INTERLEAGUE NY Yankees 3-2, Chicago Cubs 0-0
Sports, Pages 18 on 04/17/2014