Here’s the lineups for the Mariners’s game Wednesday afternoon against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field:
SEATTLE (2-6)
Norichika Aoki, LF
Seth Smith, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, RF
Kyle Seager, 3B
Adam Lind, 1B
Chris Iannetta, C
Leonys Martin, CF
Ketel Marte, SS
Starting pitcher: Right-hander Taijuan Walker (0-0, 3.00 ERA).
Notes: This is the last chance for the Mariners to taste victory in their opening homestand, as they lost their first five home games of the season, the first time in franchise history Seattle lost its first five home contests. The Mariners scored just seven runs in those five games, maxing out at three runs in Monday’s 7-3 defeat to the Rangers. Maybe the day game will wake Seattle’s bats from their slumber. They at least get to face a right-handed pitcher (A.J. Griffin), which should aid the left-heavy lineup — five of the first eight starters the Mariners faced were lefties, with Seattle winning just one of those. Walker was solid in his first outing in the home opener, allowing two runs in six innings while walking one and striking out four.
TEXAS (5-4)
Delino DeShields, CF
Nomar Mazara, RF
Prince Fielder, DH
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Mitch Moreland, 1B
Ian Desmond, LF
Roughned Odor, 2B
Hanser Alberto, SS
Brett Nicholas, C
Starting pitcher: Right-hander A.J. Griffin (1-0, 4.50 ERA).
Notes: Texas’ modest 5-4 record has the Rangers in first place in the AL West in the early going. Texas gives shortstop Elvis Andrus the day off, while outfielder Shin-Soo Choo is on the disabled list because of a calf injury. No one player has done the damage for Texas so far in the series, with the Rangers getting contributions up and down the lineup. However, former Mariner Beltre is coming off slugging a three-run homer in last night’s 8-0 victory, and the 20-year-old Mazara looks like he may be the next rookie sensation.
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