SEATTLE — John Hicks homered in his first two at-bats, Eli White added a three-run shot and the Texas Rangers snapped a 13-game losing streak in Seattle with a 7-3 victory over the Mariners on Saturday night.
Texas won in Seattle for the first time since July 23, 2019, and ended the longest active losing streak in an opponents’ park in the majors.
Hicks was the catalyst with his second career multi-homer game. A former prospect in the Mariners organization, he led off the third and fourth innings with home runs as part of a miserable return to the mound for Seattle starter Marco Gonzales.
Hicks’ first long ball was the start of a four-run inning capped by White’s line-drive homer that barely cleared the wall in left field for his fourth of the season.
Hicks opened the fourth with another towering drive that hugged the foul line but stayed fair and was the start of a three-run inning. Mitch Haniger had his second straight game with an error on a ball that should have been caught, and Adolis GarcÃa’s double scored two more for the Rangers to end Gonzales’ night.
Texas starter Jordan Lyles earned his second straight win and had a third consecutive start of at least six innings and two earned runs or less. Lyles (4-5) allowed two runs over six innings, striking out six. He threw 124 pitches.
His only bad inning came in the third when Seattle loaded the bases with no outs and Ty France walked to force in a run. But the Mariners’ rally died as Lyles got a shallow fly ball, a strikeout and a deep flyout to end the threat.
Kyle Seager hit his 15th homer for Seattle.
Gonzales (1-5) made his first start since June 20 after missing his last turn due to the birth of his first child. His command was an issue from the outset and when Gonzales missed it was generally in the middle of the plate.
It was the second time this season Gonzales has allowed at least six earned runs and the second time he gave up three homers in a game.
It was the first time Gonzales failed to get through four innings since May 1, 2019, when he lasted 1 2/3 innings in a loss to the Chicago Cubs.
ROSTER MOVES
Texas RHP Dennis Santana was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock and LHP Wes Benjamin was optioned to clear the roster spot. Santana appeared in 16 games this season for the Los Angeles Dodgers but was traded to Texas on June 17. Santana pitched one inning of relief on Saturday with one strikeout.
Benjamin appeared in seven games with the Rangers and was 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA.
UP NEXT
Rangers: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (2-7, 5.17 ERA) makes his 17th start of the season. Foltynewicz has pitched well in his past two starts, allowing four earned runs over 13 innings.
Mariners: RHP Chris Flexen (6-3, 3.97) will make his 15th start. Flexen lasted five innings and allowed three runs in his last start against Toronto. At home, Flexen is 4-2 with a 2.05 ERA in eight starts this season.
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