Lance Lynn strikes out 10, Rangers lose 6-2 to Mariners

SEATTLE (AP) – Daniel Vogelbach hit a mammoth two-run homer in the seventh inning, Kyle Seager drove in his first run of the season and the Seattle Mariners snapped a six-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday night.

Seattle was miserable on the road in getting swept by Texas and Oakland, but a strong pitching performance from Tommy Milone and a handful of key hits finally stopped the Mariners’ skid.

Vogelbach’s towering homer off reliever Jose Leclerc found a rare landing spot in the upper deck of the right field seats at T-Mobile Park, one of the few home runs to reach that part of the stadium in its 20-year history. It was his 15th of the season and while it was close to being a foul ball, the home run call stood following a replay review.

Seager, activated off the 60-day injured list last weekend, blooped a single to score Mallex Smith in the third when Seattle scored a pair. Smith came through an inning later with a sharp single to right to score J.P. Crawford.

Smith also stole home in the eighth when Kyle Bird tried to pick off Mitch Haniger at first base. It was Seattle’s first steal of home since Dustin Ackley did it in 2012.

Milone (1-1) pitched into the sixth. Logan Forsythe missed a home run by inches and settled for an RBI double in the fourth, and Ronald Guzmán homered on a 1-2 pitch in the fifth. Those were the only costly mistakes by Milone, who allowed four hits and struck out seven.

Texas starter Lance Lynn (6-4) struck out 10 and yielded three earned runs in six innings.

ROSTER SHUFFLE

Rangers: Texas recalled Bird from Triple-A Nashville and designated RHP Jeanmar Gómez for assignment. Gómez had an 8.22 ERA in 16 relief appearances for the Rangers.

Mariners: Seattle claimed RHP Jimmy Cordero off waivers from Toronto and transferred RHP Gerson Bautista to the 60-day injured list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. Cordero, 27, was designated for assignment by Toronto last week.

INJURY REPORT

Seattle manager Scott Servais had a long list of injury updates and most of them were positive. Second baseman Dee Gordon was diagnosed with a deep bone bruise in his right wrist and not a fracture after seeing a specialist in Florida. Servais said Gordon’s return will likely be determined by how well the wrist can handle swinging and hitting. Gordon said he aggravated the wrist by returning too soon from the initial injury after being hit by a pitch earlier this month. “I thought I was invincible. I am not,” Gordon joked.

Mariners infielder Ryon Healy (lower back inflammation) should resume baseball activities in the next few days.

Seattle pitchers Hunter Strickland (lat) and Felix Hernandez (shoulder) could be throwing off a mound by the end of the week, or early next week. Both have been tossing from beyond 100 feet in recent days, Servais said. Strickland has been out since March 30, and Hernandez has been sidelined since May 12.

UP NEXT

Rangers: RHP Adrian Sampson (2-3) is listed as the starter for Tuesday, although the Rangers have indicated they might use an opener. Sampson has followed an opener in each of his past two outings.

Mariners: LHP Marco Gonzales (5-4) hasn’t won since April 25 and is 0-4 with a 4.56 ERA in his last five starts.