ARLINGTON, Texas — This is not what Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais wanted for his 49th birthday.
Seattle trailed by three runs after the first inning for the fourth consecutive game and Nathan Karns lost for the first time since his Mariners debut in a 10-4 defeat to the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.
“We’re in first-inning woes a little bit,” Servais said. “You look up, you’re down right out of the chute. We’ll get it turned around. It’s just a frustrating stretch right now. … It does suck a little life out of you.”
The only victory for the Mariners in this four-game stretch came Thursday in San Diego, when they had the biggest comeback in franchise history. They overcame a 10-run deficit after five innings to beat the Padres 16-13.
Nathan Karns (5-2) lost for the first time since April 9. The right-hander had gone 5-0 his previous nine starts, but was gone after the first two batters in the fifth reached and eventually scored. He allowed seven runs, with five strikeouts and five walks.
The Rangers, whose 33-22 record is the best in the American League, led throughout after going up 3-0 in the first. Jurickson Profar had a leadoff double before a bunt single by Ian Desmond and a sacrifice fly by Nomar Mazara, who later hit his 10th homer. After Rougned Odor’s two-out single, Ryan Rua had a two-run double.
“First inning, let me go — single, bunt single, sac fly, single, double down the line. … I thought I was making quality pitches,” Karns said. “It’s just one of those things it’s kind of tough to get through, but I’ve got to get through that.”
Elvis Andrus added a three-run homer for Texas while scrappy second baseman Odor had two hits and scored twice following his reinstatement after serving his seven-game suspension from Major League Baseball for punching Toronto’s Jose Bautista in a testy home game May 15.
Odor got a standing ovation from Rangers fans when he came to bat for the first time.
“It was amazing for me. The fans here, they’re great.” Odor said. “Those seven days were really long for me. I’m glad I’m back.”
Nelson Cruz hit his 12th homer for the Mariners, a solo shot in the third, and Franklin Gutierrez extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a seventh-inning double.
Rangers lefty Martin Perez (4-4) allowed three runs over six innings.
Profar, who had hits in all seven games after being called up for Triple-A to fill in for Odor at second base, remained at the top of the Rangers lineup and had two more hits as the designated hitter.
Short hops
Seattle starters have allowed 67 runs over 71 innings the past 13 games. … The Rangers are 11 games over. 500 and have a two-game AL West lead over Seattle, both season highs. … Desmond was 3 for 5, his 22nd multihit game. All have been since he was hitting .109 through his first 12 games with the Rangers. … Legendary comic creator Stan Lee, in town for Dallas Comic Con, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. He had a big smile on his face and clapped when the Rangers mascot donned a Spiderman costume for a skit between innings.
Trainer’s room
Mariners: OF Leonys Martin (strained left hamstring) did more agility drills Saturday, when he felt good a day after running. … INF Ketel Marte (sprained left thumb) will get a day off Sunday after playing his last rehab game and is expected to rejoin the Mariners on Monday.
Rangers: RHP A.J. Griffin, on the DL since May 8 with right shoulder stiffness, threw 47 pitches over three simulated innings. He is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Monday.
Up next
Mariners: Seattle will be trying to avoid a sweep in a three-game series for the fourth time this season. The Mariners have already been swept by AL West teams Oakland and the Los Angeles Angels.
Rangers: LHP Derek Holland is 11-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 22 career games against Seattle.
