Mariners melt down late in loss to Rangers
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Texas — Todd Frazier scored the tiebreaking run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning, Willie Calhoun then hit a two-run single and the Texas Rangers overcame an early four-run deficit to beat the Seattle Mariners 7-4 on Wednesday night.
Derek Dietrich started the Rangers’ five-run eighth with his one-out single, before Elvis Andrus doubled and pinch-hitter Frazier was hit by a pitch. Dietrich scored on No. 9 batter Jeff Mathis’ bloop single to left center before Shin-Soo Choo’s sacrifice fly tied the game. Then came the wild pitch by Taylor Williams, who had just taken over for Erik Swanson (0-1).
Jonathan Hernandez (3-0), the fourth Texas pitcher, pitched a scoreless eighth before Rafael Montero’s perfect ninth for his fourth save in as many chances.
Seattle scored all of its runs in the second off Jordan Lyles. Austin Nola led off by lining a 424-foot homer into Seattle’s bullpen in left-center before Shed Long Jr. walked. Daniel Vogelbach then made it 3-0 when he pulled a 442-foot shot into the right field seats — well beyond the five rows of cardboard cutouts of fans. Kyle Lewis later added a sacrifice fly.
The Mariners now finally get their first day off of the season after being the only American League team to open with 20 games in 20 days.
Dietrich, already with two hits, was hit by a pitch with two outs in the sixth and stole second base before scoring on J.P. Crawford’s throwing error when Elvis Andrus hit a grounder. Seattle’s shortstop then made a spectacular inning-ending play, diving up the middle on another chopper and while still on the ground scooped the ball from his glove to second baseman Long for the forceout.
Taijuan Walker allowed only an unearned run and scattered six hits over six innings, with five strikeouts and one walk.
