It’s the continuation of a series of AL West teams on the diamond down in the Lone Star State. The Seattle Mariners are on the road as they play the middle game of a three-game set with the Texas Rangers Saturday night. Seattle took the rubber game of their three-game home set with the Yankees as they rallied for a 4-3 victory Wednesday afternoon in their most recent contest. Texas lost the rubber game of their three-game road set with the Astros as they were beaten 7-3 in the series finale Thursday afternoon. This article was published prior to the conclusion of the opening game of the series Friday night at Globe Life Field.
Seattle won their second straight and their third in their last four games as they rallied to take down the Yankees Wednesday afternoon at home. The Mariners entered Friday second in the AL West, 11 games behind the Astros for the top spot. They held the second wild card spot in the American League and stood two games clear of Baltimore to remain on the right side of the cut line. In Wednesday’s contest, Seattle finished with just five hits with no player recording more than one yet managed to prevail. Sam Haggerty (his fourth) and Carlos Santana (his 11th) each homered in the victory for the Mariners. Robbie Ray didn’t factor in the decision as he threw 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with five walks and seven strikeouts. Pat Murfee (3-0) earned the win despite allowing one run on one hit with no walks or strikeouts over two-thirds of an inning. Paul Sewald worked a scoreless ninth, striking out one, f or his 15th save.
Marco Gonzales is on the mound for his 23rd start of the season for the Mariners in this contest. He comes in 7-11 with a 3.98 ERA, a 1.391 WHIP, 40 walks and 72 strikeouts over 124.1 innings of work on the year. Gonzales picked up the win in his last start, which came against the Angels at home Sunday afternoon. He threw six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in a game the Mariners won by a 6-3 margin. In his last three starts, Gonzales is 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.42 WHIP, five walks and 17 strikeouts over 18.1 innings of work. Gonzales makes his 21st career start against the Rangers in this contest. He comes in 9-7 with a 3.87 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, 20 walks and 93 strikeouts over 118.2 innings of work against them. Gonzales is 1-2 with a 3.99 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, five walks and 18 strikeouts over 29.1 innings of work over five career starts at Globe Life Field.