Andrus, Choo power Rangers past Mariners
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Elvis Andrus' two-run homer propelled the Texas Rangers to a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.
Shin-Soo Choo went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and two runs scored for the Rangers, who have won two of their last three. Adrian Beltre and Alex Rios also supplied two hits apiece.
Nick Tepesch (1-0) surrendered three runs on five hits with four strikeouts across 6 1/3 innings to earn the win. Joakim Soria tossed a scoreless ninth for his eighth save of the season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I think he got about 14 groundballs today. With that going on and commanding the baseball, I think that's the difference right there," said Rangers manager Ron Washington on Tepesch's performance.
Robinson Cano stroked a two-run homer and Michael Saunders brought in a run for Seattle, which entered the game with a two-game win streak. Chris Young (3-2) was tagged for four runs on seven hits with three walks in 6 1/3 frames.
"We are feeling good. We just have to stay positive," said Cano. "We just have to turn the page and go home to try to win some games."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After Daniel Robertson got aboard with a walk, Andrus crushed a fastball that barely cleared the left-field wall to give Texas the early lead in the bottom of the first.
Choo and Beltre then singled before Rios plated Choo with a base hit up the middle to make it a 3-0 game. The Rangers later loaded the bases with one out, but Young recorded a strikeout and a groundout to end the opening frame.
Seattle tied the game in the fourth. James Jones hustled on a line drive to the center-field wall for a triple and was brought around on Saunders' single. Cano then drove a two-run shot to center to even the game at 3-3.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Choo put the Rangers ahead for good with a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the fifth.
Game Notes
Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder was scratched from Wednesday's lineup. He hasn't played since Friday and received an injection for a herniated disk in his neck on Saturday ... The Rangers lead the season series, 5-4 ... Jones extended his hitting streak to 11 games ... Cano has reached base safely in 28 consecutive games. It is the longest on-base streak of his career and longest active streak in the majors ... Both of Cano's two home runs this season have been hit in Globe Life Park ... Soria's save snapped the Rangers' streak of 16 games without one.