Currently: - Game info: 2:05 pm EDT Thu Aug 25, 2005
- TV: FSSW
The Texas Rangers will try to complete their first series sweep in nearly two months when they conclude a three-game set with the last-place Seattle Mariners.
Juan Dominguez pitched two-hit ball over six innings and Kevin Mench had a two-run home run as the Rangers beat the Mariners 8-1 on Wednesday.
Mench, who is 9-for-13 with two homers in his last four games, was one of seven players to get two hits for Texas, which is batting .380 (27-for-71) in the series.
The Rangers, who entered Tuesday on the heels of a franchise-worst 1-12 road trip, posted consecutive wins for the first time since Aug. 6-7. They haven’t swept a series since taking a three-game set from Toronto from July 8-10.
Texas is 13-26 since the All-Star break, and is trying to avoid its fourth last-place finish in five years. The Rangers are third in the AL West, six games in front of the Mariners.
Dominguez’s sharp effort came one day after rookie Chris Young threw five strong innings in a 6-4 victory over Seattle. Texas got back-to-back wins from starters for the first time since Aug. 6-7.
“It’s definitely a boost for us,” said Rangers catcher Rod Barajas, who drove in two runs Wednesday.
“We’ve gotten two quality pitching performances and our offense has held its own,” added Texas first baseman Mark Teixeira. “We’re feeling good right now.”
Starter Joaquin Benoit will try to keep the Rangers’ modest streak going, but he has struggled in August. The 27-year-old right-hander is 0-2 with a 7.32 ERA in four starts this month.
Seattle fell a season-low 19 games below .500 with its fifth loss in six games.
“We didn’t swing at good hitter’s pitches,” Seattle manager Mike Hargrove said. “It’s tough to win with only four hits. A couple of times we had two men on and nobody out and we couldn’t get a run across.”
Lookout Landing
Lone Star Ball
