 in the second inning. Sampson worked five innings, allowing three runs and eight hits while striking out six.The Rangers are 6-3 using the opener approach since last September.Texas hitters backed up their pitchers with a seven-run fifth inning that included two-run hits by Hunter Pence and Asdrubel Cabrera and a three-run home run by Guzman that landed in the second deck in right field. The burst ended the night for Seattle starter Marco Gonzales (5-5), who gave up eight hits and eight runs (six earned) in four innings. The left-hander has lost five games in six appearances after starting the season 5-0.The Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak and gave manager Chris Woodward continued positive feedback about the opener pitching approach. He said he may continue it Wednesday in the final game of the three-game set before bringing in scheduled starter Drew Smyly.Chavez and Sampson are thriving under the opener approach. Chavez has now pitched 12 2/3 scoreless innings with six hits as an opener, with 16 strikeouts and three walks. And Sampson, a former Mariners pitcher, is 3-0 while following an opener. He also beat the Mariners 2-1 last week.RARE RESTSeattle manager Scott Servais gave Mitch Haniger a day off, operating under the theory that even All-Stars need one occasionally. Haniger is top 10 in the American League in doubles (second), extra-base hits (fourth) and home runs (eighth), but the 2019 All-Star right-fielder has been in a prolonged slump and is batting .229. ''Hopefully it helps,'' Servais said. ''My guess is he's watching video or in the cage or doing something right now. But sometimes you sit and watch the game for a little bit. It does recharge the batteries.'' UP NEXTRangers: LHP Drew Smyly (1-3, 6.15 ERA) will likely get the start in the series finale against Seattle, though Woodward said he was still looking at using a reliever as an opener.Mariners: LHP Wade LeBlanc (2-2, 7.35 ERA) tries to stop an 0-2 skid with a 13.50 ERA in his third start since returning from the injured list.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Mariners' Smith suddenly a real steal vs. RangersFLMMallex Smith was such a major disappointment in late April that he was sent down to Triple-A Tacoma.Now the 26-year-old center fielder is displaying signs of igniting the Seattle offense as the Mariners entertain the Texas Rangers on Tuesday in the middle contest of a three-game set.On Monday, Smith matched the franchise record of four steals -- the eighth time it has happened -- including steals of second, third and home in the eighth inning of Seattle's 6-2 victory over Texas.The triumph halted the Mariners' six-game losing streak and came in Smith's second two-hit outing in eight games since returning to the club on May 16."Just trying to stay within myself," Smith said in a postgame television interview with ROOT Sports. "I know I have been swinging pretty hard early in the year. ... Now I'm just trying to simplify my swings and get a pitch I can drive -- and don't miss it." Mariners manager Scott Servais was glad to see Smith provide a spark. Monday's effort was more in line of what Seattle was expecting when it acquired Smith in the offseason deal that sent catcher Mike Zunino to the Tampa Bay Rays."It's great to see Mallex get going," Servais said after the contest. "I've never seen it before. I've never seen anybody steal three bases in one inning. It was great. Good for him, get a little momentum and confidence going there." Seattle's Daniel Vogelbach also provided a highlight with a soaring two-run homer into the upper deck in right. According to the team, it was just the third homer to reach the top level in the ballpark's history, with Mo Vaughn of the Anaheim Angels (1999) and Carlos Delgado of the Toronto Blue Jays (2001) being the other players.The venue opened midway through the 1999 season as Safeco Field and changed names to T-Mobile Park for this season.Texas has dropped three straight games after winning its previous five. The Rangers had defeated the Mariners five straight times prior to Monday's loss.Right-hander Adrian Sampson, who grew up in the Seattle area, will be the primary Texas pitcher on Tuesday after veteran right-hander Jesse Chavez (0-1, 4.55 ERA) serves as the "opener." That combination worked well against the Mariners on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas, where the Rangers prevailed 2-1.Chavez pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, with Sampson (2-3, 4.44 ERA) following and allowing one run and four hits over 5 1/3 innings. Sampson struck out five and walked none.It was the second straight appearance in which Sampson earned the win as the second Texas pitcher. He gave up two runs (one earned) and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings while getting the decision against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 17.Sampson is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in three career appearances (one start) against the Mariners. Tuesday's game will mark the third time he has pitched in Seattle."It's an environment I'm used to," Sampson told ROOT Sports prior to Monday's game. "I've been in this park a lot growing up and now playing in it, I can get a little more comfortable."There are still a lot of familiar faces in the crowd, so it puts me at ease. ... I get a lot of energy from it." Seattle left-hander Marco Gonzales (5-4, 3.41 ERA) will start Tuesday. He has dropped four straight decisions while going winless over his past five starts.Gonzales was 5-0 after blanking the Rangers over seven innings on April 25. He matched his career best of nine strikeouts, walked none and allowed six hits.Since that outing, he has fanned just 14 in 23 2/3 innings and has pitched five or fewer innings on three occasions.Gonzales is 4-2 with a 2.38 ERA in seven career starts vs. Texas.Rangers slugger Joey Gallo (4-for-13) has two homers against Gonzales. Other Texas players who have fared well against him include Shin-Soo Choo (5-for-10), Hunter Pence (4-for-8, one homer) and Elvis Andrus (4-for-11).--Field Level Media
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