Arozarena"s 9th-Inning Hit Leads Mariners Past Rangers 5-4
- Randy Arozarena's ninth-inning single led the Mariners to a 5-4 victory over the Rangers.
- The game featured multiple lead changes, with key home runs from both teams.
- This win keeps the Mariners in the playoff race, trailing the Astros and Twins.
On Saturday night in Seattle, Randy Arozarena delivered a crucial one-out bases-loaded single in the ninth inning, securing a 5-4 win for the Mariners against the Texas Rangers. The game saw Victor Robles double and steal third base, while Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh contributed by walking, setting the stage for Arozarena's decisive hit off pitcher José Leclerc. This victory marked Arozarena's fourth career walk-off hit, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure. The Mariners initially took the lead in the second inning with a sacrifice fly from Josh Rojas. However, the Rangers responded with a two-run home run from Leody Taveras in the third, putting them ahead temporarily. Julio Rodríguez then tied the game with a powerful 446-foot home run off Max Scherzer, who had just returned from the injured list. Scherzer's performance included four innings pitched, yielding two earned runs. The back-and-forth nature of the game continued as Marcus Semien hit a two-run homer for Texas in the fifth, only for Luke Raley to equalize with his own two-run blast later in the inning. The pitching duel featured Logan Gilbert for the Mariners, who struck out seven batters over six innings, despite allowing four earned runs. With this win, the Mariners remain in contention for the playoffs, sitting 4.5 games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West and 2.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the final wild-card spot. The upcoming matchup features Andrew Heaney for Texas and George Kirby for Seattle, promising more excitement in the series.