Nathan Eovaldi, Texas Rangers Pummel Mariners to Complete Sweep
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas Rangers put the finishing touches on a convincing division sweep, crushing the Seattle Mariners 12-3 Sunday afternoon Globe Life Field.
The American League West-leading Rangers (38-20) continued their historic start with a three-game display of power and pitching. Texas outscored the Mariners 30-9 over the weekend, improving to 5-1 against Seattle this season.
The 58-game start is the best in franchise history. The Rangers own the second-best record in baseball, trailing only the Tampa Bay Rays (42-19). The two AL heavyweights square off this weekend in Tampa.
Texas has four sweeps in 2023 and has won five straight series. The Rangers last swept Seattle in 2019.
Nathan Eovaldi (8-2) is making his case as one of the MLB’s best pitchers, as the right-hander ran his winning streak to seven. The AL Pitcher of the Month for May worked six scoreless innings, striking out seven and lowering his ERA to 2.24.
That kind of outing needs little offensive support. But these are the Rangers, who lead the Majors in scoring and run differential.
Texas pounded out 15 more hits against a beleaguered Seattle staff, with losing pitcher Bryce Miller (3-3) taking the initial brunt.
All nine Rangers in the starting lineup had at least one hit. Corey Seager and Jonah Heim each homered. Heim’s three-run blast caromed off the right-field foul pole in the sixth, giving the catcher five RBI.
Marcus Semien extended his career-high hitting and on-base streak to 23 and 31 games, respectively.
Texas leads baseball with 16 games of at least 10 runs.
Adolis García had an injury scare in the second inning, as the right fielder appeared to tweak his right knee trying to break on a drive into the right-center gap. García received medical attention and stayed in the game without any issues, finishing with two hits and driving in a run with a double to center.
Travis Jankowski, starting in center for a banged-up Leody Taveras, preserved Eovaldi’s scoreless outing by robbing Seattle designated hitter Mike Ford of a sure home run in the fifth. Jankowski leapt up the wall in right-center and snagged the ball before it fell in the Rangers bullpen. He made another spectacular catch at the fence in the eighth.
With the win, Bruce Bochy moved into 10th all-time in MLB managerial wins with 2,041. Bochy (2,041-2,049) was tied with Hall of Famer Walter Alston.
The Rangers open a three-game series Monday night against the St. Louis Cardinals with Martín Pérez (6-1, 4.43) on the mound. The Redbirds counter with Adam Wainwright (2-1, 6.15) for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch at Globe Life Field.
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