Note: Tuesday night’s game against the Rangers ended too late for this edition.
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners left Texas last week having scored 19 runs while winning their final two games of a series.
Four consecutive losses later, that offensive output is a distant memory.
The Mariners followed a four-game sweep by Oakland in which they totaled four runs by getting just a run in six innings against Colby Lewis en route to a 7-3 defeat to the Texas Rangers on Monday night.
Lewis limited Seattle to four hits.
“We struggled to put consistent quality at-bats together,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “It just isn’t happening right now. What are you going to do? You just got to keep battling, keep fighting through it, and eventually we will come out of it.”
Lewis (1-0) allowed a first-inning run on Nelson Cruz’s two-out RBI double, then retired 13 straight before allowing an infield single to open the sixth when he failed to cover on Leonys Martin’s bouncer to first.
“I just had to keep it close. I had a little bit of a lead, 2-1, then 3-1,” Lewis said. “I just knew I had to continue to go out there and do my job.”
Texas built a 7-1 lead before Cruz’s second homer of the season, a two-run shot off Keone Kela in the eighth.
The Rangers erased a 1-0 deficit with runs in the second, third and fourth off Hisashi Iwakuma (0-1), who gave up three runs on eight hits in six innings.
“Well, I battled throughout the whole game. I did struggle with my command,” said Iwakuma, who had won six straight decisions against Texas. “Some of the balls that were hit were up in the zone. Some weren’t hit hard, but they still made me pay for it.”
Brett Nicholas, making his major league debut after being called up Sunday from Triple-A Round Rock, doubled to open the seventh off Mike Montgomery for his first hit. He scored on Prince Fielder’s single to left just over Ketel Marte’s outstretched glove.
Runners in scoreless
position
Cruz’s RBI double in the first snapped an 0 for 16 streak by the Mariners during this homestand with runners in scoring position.
Trainer’s room
Mariners: RHP Joaquin Benoit was unavailable for a second straight day while he deals with back and shoulder stiffness. Benoit said he did not consider it serious and it was something he dealt with during spring training as well. … LHP Charlie Furbush played catch at 75 feet on Monday. It was his first throwing session since early in spring training after he experienced tightness in the deltoid area of his left shoulder.
UP NEXT
Rangers: LHP Derek Holland did not get a decision in his first start, a 4-3 walkoff loss to the Angels. Holland gave up three runs and two walks in five innings, for which he needed 92 pitches. Holland missed most of 2014 with injuries and was limited to 10 starts last season with a shoulder injury.
Mariners: LHP Wade Miley, acquired during the off-season from Boston, makes his home debut. In his first start at Texas, he allowed five runs on seven hits — including a three-run homer to Fielder — in six innings, but he did not get a decision in the Mariners’ 9-5 victory.
