The Rangers dropped a 6-5 decision to the Seattle Mariners on a windy Monday afternoon in Peoria, mounting a ninth-inning comeback attempt that ultimately fell just short.
Texas entered the fifth inning in a 3-0 hole against the Mariners, but pushed across a pair of runs thanks in part to a run-scoring double by Marcus Semien. Trailing 6-2 in the sixth, the Rangers struck again when Joe McCarthy parked a solo shot to right field for his first home run of the spring.
The 6-3 score would hold steady until the top of the ninth, when solo home runs by Yohel Pozo and Brad Miller pulled Texas within a run of a tie. Miller’s blast was his third of the Cactus League season, as he has batted .438 (7-16) with 4 XBH (3 HR, 2B) and 6 RBI through five games.
Following a two-out double by Yonny Hernandez, Willie Calhoun grounded into a game-ending 4-3 putout to strand the tying run at second base.
Texas starter and losing pitcher Glenn Otto allowed two runs on three hits (incl. a home run by Dylan Moore) and a walk over 2.2 innings, fanning the final batter he faced (Jesse Winker) for his lone punch out. Josh Sborz (2 H, 1 R-ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) and Spencer Patton (4 H, 3 R-ER, 2 BB) each logged innings in relief, with the Rangers receiving scoreless outings from Fernery Ozuna (0.1 IP), Joe Barlow (1.0 IP, 2 SO), Nick Snyder (1.0 IP, 1 SO) and Dan Winkler (1.0 IP, 2 SO).
The Rangers will host the Cincinnati Reds tomorrow at 3:05 p.m. CT in Surprise, with Texas RHP Spencer Howard (1-0, 0.00) slated to face Cincinnati LHP Reiver Sanmartin (0-0, 0.00). Tomorrow’s game will be the first Rangers spring contest televised by Bally Sports Southwest this year. There will also be a free audio webcast available on texasrangers.com featuring Rangers radio voices Eric Nadel, Matt Hicks, and Jared Sandler.
