Mariners roughed up by Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Tyson Ross allowed just a pair of runs in his first start in 14 months and Carlos Gomez homered to help the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 10-4 on Friday night.

Ross (1-0) made his Rangers debut and started for the first time since opening day last year when he pitched for the Padres. He had been sidelined with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and picked up his first win since Aug. 31, 2015. He struck out five in 5 2/3 innings.

Gomez had four RBIs after being sidelined four weeks with a strained right hamstring.

Ross walked the first batter he faced and allowed a run on an RBI groundout in the first, but settled down and didn’t allow a hit until Mike Zunino’s bloop single in the fifth.

Seattle starter James Paxton (5-2) allowed seven hits and seven runs in 3 2/3 innings. He ran into trouble in the third and threw 40 pitches as Texas scored five runs in the inning.

“We’ve got to get (Paxton) in a good spot, going in the right direction again,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “The last couple he just hasn’t looked comfortable out there. Everything looks like a struggle.”

Elvis Andrus had an RBI double in the inning and then scored along with Shin-Soo Choo on a two-run single by Adrian Beltre. Beltre and Rougned Odor then scored on a single by Jonathan Lucroy as Texas took a 5-1 lead.

Robinson Chirinos homered and Gomez had an RBI double in the fourth to push the lead to 7-1. Gomez later homered to centre on the first pitch he saw in the sixth inning, scoring Choo and Beltre.

“Once the guys started swinging, I was just happy to be out there with the lead and continue to get outs and progress through the game,” Ross said.

Ben Gamel scored in the first, sixth, and eighth innings for Seattle and Jarrod Dyson homered against Rangers reliever Jose Leclerc in the seventh.

TRAINERS ROOM

Mariners: RHP Felix Hernandez (strained oblique) is scheduled to make a rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma and throw 80 to 85 pitches. RHP Hishashi Iwakuma (shoulder inflammation) is scheduled to make potentially his final rehab start on Monday. RHP Zac Curtis was recalled from Double-A Arkansas Friday.

Rangers: Reliever Tony Barnette was put on the 10-day DL with a sprained finger. RHP Dillon Gee was designated for assignment to make room for Ross on the 40-man roster. LHP Cole Hamels (oblique strain) made his first rehab start with Double-A Frisco allowing one hit and striking out three in three innings.

UP NEXT

Mariners: RHP Yovani Gallardo is making his 14th start after picking up his third win in a 14-3 rout of Minnesota on June 12.

Rangers: LHP Martin Perez will be making his 14th start on five days rest and is looking for his first career win against Seattle.