Mariners post first sweep in Texas in 13 years

Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Logan Morrison went 4-for-5 with a two-run double, Felix Hernandez put forth another effective start and the Seattle Mariners finished off a rare road sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 5-2 decision.

Hernandez (4-0) held Texas' struggling offense to two runs and five hits over 6 2/3 solid innings, with Morrison's tie-breaking hit in the fifth putting the Seattle ace in line to win a third consecutive start.

Nelson Cruz added two hits, including his 10th homer of the young season, to help the Mariners record their first sweep of at least three games in Arlington since taking four straight meetings from April 12-15, 2002.

"Any time you sweep, you are extremely happy," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Even though you win there are still mistakes that need to be corrected and certainly there are things that we need to work on."

Hernandez, meanwhile, posted his first victory in Texas since Sept. 28, 2010.

The Rangers have now dropped six of seven and produced a meager four runs for the series. Carlos Peguero and Carlos Corporan each had an RBI in Wednesday's setback.

"Felix is a great pitcher so you gotta give him some credit," Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder said.

Texas also received a shaky start from Wandy Rodriguez (0-1), who walked five while surrendering four runs in just 4 1/3 innings.

Rodriguez was able to work his way out of a couple of earlier jams to keep the game tied at 2-2 up until the fifth inning, which Justin Ruggiano began with a double and Rodriguez issued two more walks -- an intentional one to Cruz and an unintended free pass to Rickie Weeks that loaded the bases with one out.

Morrison followed with a hard grounder that Rangers first baseman Kyle Blanks couldn't field cleanly, with the ball trickling down the right-field line as a pair of runners crossed the plate.

Hernandez, who struck out just four but walked only one, was inconsistent early on but at his best late, retiring nine of the final 10 hitters he faced before Danny Farquhar and Fernando Rodney combined for 2 1/3 perfect innings.

Rodney worked a spotless ninth for his seventh save, entering with a 5-2 lead after Seattle's Robinson Cano scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth by reaching on an error and eventually coming on a wild pitch.

Cruz had opened the scoring with a long home run to left to start the second inning. The blast preceded a walk to Weeks and singles by Morrison and Willie Bloomquist, though Rodriguez was able to limit the damage to just one more run by getting Mike Zunino to ground into a double play.

Hernandez uncharacteristically gave the lead up in Texas' half of the frame. The All-Star hurler walked Adrian Beltre and Peguero drove his teammate home with a double on the eighth pitch of his at-bat, with Corporan later coming through with a two-out single that forged a 2-2 tie.

Game Notes

Hernandez had gone 0-3 with a pair of no-decisions over his five previous starts at Globe Life Park ... Blanks had his contract purchased from Triple-A Round Rock prior to the game to replace first baseman/DH Mitch Moreland, expected to miss 2-to-3 weeks after undergoing elbow surgery Wednesday ... Peguero's RBI double in the second halted an 0-for-15 skid ... Stolmy Pimentel tossed three scoreless innings in relief of Rodriguez.