Minor strikes out 13 as Rangers pound Mariners 15-1

SEATTLE (AP) — Mike Minor struck out a career-high 13 in seven innings, and the Texas Rangers pounded the Seattle Mariners 15-1 on Saturday night to stop a five-game losing streak.

Elvis Andrus and Roughned Odor each hit a three-run homer for Texas, which finished with a season-high 20 hits. Joey Gallo hit a solo drive for his ninth homer, and Logan Forsythe finished with four hits and three RBIs.

Minor (3-2) matched the team record for strikeouts by a left-hander while allowing just three hits in his 111-pitch outing. It was timely performance for the Rangers after their bullpen picked up the loss in two of the previous three games.

Other than Domingo Santana’s deep drive in the first inning, Minor went largely unchallenged by the usually heavy-hitting Mariners, who lead the league in extra-base hits.

Seattle hurt itself with three errors, and Mike Leake (2-3) was tagged for five earned runs and 10 hits in five innings.

After Shin-Soo Choo opened the game with a walk, Odor reached on an error on shortstop Tim Beckham. Andrus then hit a long drive to left-center for his fourth homer.

Leake surrendered a one-out double to Forsythe in the second, and Jeff Mathis reached when Mallex Smith dropped a fairly routine running catch in center. After Choo popped out, Odor belted a drive to right for his first homer.

It was Texas’ third road win of the season in 12 tries.

Seattle manager Scott Servais had utility infielder Dylan Moore pitch the ninth, and inserted catcher Omar Narvaez at second base. Moore was charged with four runs and five hits.

ON THE WAY

Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager said he is ahead of schedule in his return from surgery on his left hand and could take live batting practice soon. Seager is eligible to return May 25.

He threw on the side before Saturday’s game and was happy to be back in the clubhouse with the team.

“Watching them on TV and watching them in Japan and everything was definitely weird for me,” Seager said.

HE’S HERE

Mike Wright pitched two innings for Seattle in his first appearance since he was acquired in a trade with Baltimore. He allowed one run and three hits.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: An MRI on Taylor Hearn’s left elbow showed inflammation but no acute injury, the team said. The left-hander was placed on the 10-day injured list after complaining of soreness following a disastrous call-up start Thursday that ended after one-third of an inning. … INF Asdrubal Cabrera remained out with a calf strain, but he is expected to play Sunday.

Mariners: 2B Dee Gordon got what Servais characterized as a spa day after he limped off the field following his game-ending slide at second base Friday night that allowed the winning run to score in a 5-4 victory in 11 innings. He is expected to play Sunday.

UP NEXT

Rangers: RHP Lance Lynn (2-2, 6.61 ERA) starts the finale of the four-game set on Sunday. Lynn was hit hard in his previous outing, allowing eight runs in 3 1/3 innings in an 11-5 loss at Oakland.

Mariners: RHP Erik Swanson (0-2, 4.61 ERA) makes his third career start.