Big Mariner Inning Seals Rangers’ Fate

ARLINGTON, Texas — Jay Buhner homered and drove in five runs Saturday night and the Seattle Mariners stung the Texas Rangers with a nine-run seventh inning on their way to a 15-8 victory.

Buhner, who hit a three-run homer in the first inning, ignited the Mariners’ biggest inning of the season with a two-run single off Ed Vosberg (1-2) for an 8-7 lead.

“Buhner got us going with the three-run homer in the first and he also got the big hit in the seventh,” Seattle Manager Lou Piniella said. “It was a hitter’s ballgame and we got the clutch hits.”

Other highlights of the seventh included a three-run double by Dan Wilson, a two-run double by Brent Gates and a run-scoring double by Joey Cora. It was Seattle’s biggest inning since scoring nine runs at Baltimore on June 7, 1995.

Rusty Greer homered for the Rangers, who lost despite outhitting Seattle, 16-13.

Texas took a 7-5 lead in the sixth off Mike Maddux (1-0) on a run-scoring double by Juan Gonzalez, who had spent the night in a hospital after being hit in the helmet with a pitch the previous day, and an RBI groundout by Dean Palmer.

Buhner said Seattle has Texas’ number.

“There is no doubt we play with confidence against those guys,” he said. “With our track record in the past, it’s nice to go into a series knowing we can play well against them. “

“Eight runs should have been enough to win,” Texas Manager Johnny Oates said. “For the first time, I saw a few heads handing in the clubhouse. Seattle has taken advantage of everything we have given them and a few things we didn’t give them. “

NEXT SERIES FOR ANGELS

Who: Texas Rangers

Where: Arlington, Texas

When:

Monday: 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday: 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday: 11:30 p.m.