Tyson Ross makes sterling debut as Rangers’ offense rips Mariners
Tyson Ross was outstanding in his Texas Rangers debut and the offense overpowered the Seattle Mariners to take Friday’s series opener 10-4 at Globe Life Park.
Ross, in his first start for the Rangers since signing as a free agent during the off-season, held the Mariners to two runs on two hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked three, including the game’s first batter. A stolen base and wild pitch allowed Ben Gamel to score and give Seattle a 1-0 lead but Ross retired the next nine batters.
Seattle’s second base runner was Mitch Haniger, who walked to start the fourth. Another lead-off walk in the sixth set up an RBI single by Nelson Cruz but by then the Rangers led by 7-2.
The victory was the first in the major leagues for Ross since Aug. 31, 2015 when he pitched the San Diego Padres to victory over the Rangers.
The Rangers offered plenty of offensive support, batting around and scoring five times in the third against Mariners starter James Paxton.
Delino DeShields and Shin-Soo Choo walked with one out before Elvis Andrus’ run-scoring double to left and Adrian Beltre’s two-run single to right. After Rougned Odor doubled, designated hitter Jonathan Lucroy singled in two more runs to make it 5-1.
In the fourth, Robinson Chirinos homered and Carlos Gomez doubled in a run to push the lead to 7-1.
Gomez and Mike Napoli returned to the lineup after stints on the disabled list. Gomez went 2 for 4 with four RBIs, including a three-run homer in the sixth.
Dario Alvarez finished the sixth for Ross. Jose Leclerc came on in the seventh and allowed two runs on three hits, despite striking out the side. Alex Claudio pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game and give Ross the long-awaited win.
Stefan Stevenson: 817-390-7760, @StevensonFWST
Seattle | 100 | 001 | 110 | — | 4 | 7 | 0 |
Texas | 005 | 203 | 00x | — | 10 | 13 | 0 |
Seattle AB | R | H | BI | BB | SO | Avg. | |
Gamel lf-1b | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .347 |
Haniger rf | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .327 |
Cano 2b | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .285 |
Smith 2b | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .231 |
Cruz dh | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .298 |
Seager 3b | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .260 |
Valencia 1b | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .265 |
Heredia lf | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .269 |
Dyson cf | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .244 |
Zunino c | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .248 |
Motter ss | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .199 |
Totals 33 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 8 | ||
Texas AB | R | H | BI | BB | SO | Avg. | |
DeShields lf | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .292 |
Choo rf | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .257 |
Andrus ss | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .295 |
Beltre 3b | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | .304 |
Gomez cf | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | .252 |
Odor 2b | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .217 |
Lucroy dh | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .275 |
Napoli 1b | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .194 |
Chirinos c | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .226 |
Totals 36 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 6 | ||
LOB—Seattle 5, Texas 8. 2B—Andrus (16), Gomez (12), Odor (10). HR—Dyson (4), off Leclerc; Chirinos (8), off Paxton; Gomez (5), off Curtis. RBIs—Cano (40), Cruz (53), Dyson (20), Andrus (36), Beltre 2 (9), Gomez 4 (17), Lucroy 2 (18), Chirinos (21). SB—Gamel (2), DeShields (15). DP—Seattle 1, Texas 1.
Seattle | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | NP | ERA |
Paxton, L 5-2 | 3 2/3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 91 | 3.23 |
Zych | 1 1/3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 2.25 |
Curtis | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 5.79 |
Texas | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | NP | ERA |
Ross, W 1-0 | 5 2/3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 95 | 3.18 |
Alvarez | 1/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3.18 |
Leclerc | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 2.70 |
Claudio | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 2.43 |
Inherited runners-scored—Zych 1-1, Alvarez 1-0, Claudio 2-1. HBP—Zych (Beltre), Curtis (Odor). WP—Ross, Paxton, Curtis 2. T—3:07. A—33,960 (48,114).
Rangers vs. Mariners
4:05 p.m. Saturday, FSSW
This story was originally published June 16, 2017 at 10:19 PM with the headline "Tyson Ross makes sterling debut as Rangers’ offense rips Mariners."