Better hitting and Woo’s arm keep Mariners hot in Texas

Seattle’s bats woke up just in time for Sunday’s doubleheader finale. Under clear skies and rising temperatures, the Mariners used timely power to crush Texas 5-2 and grab their second series victory of the year. Instead of folding against a tough southpaw, they delivered early and often, led by a pair of rookies who had never homered in a Mariners uniform. Saturday’s closer locked up the win again, but Sunday belonged to the hitters. Rob Refsnyder—fresh off the bench—drilled the first pitch he saw over the fence to stake the team to a quick lead. J. P. Crawford and Randy Arozarena followed with back-to-back blasts, stretching the lead to five before Texas blinked. The Rangers’ starter had shut them down in three straight outings, but Refsnyder ended that streak in the first inning.Bryan Woo, Seattle’s 24-year-old righty, looked like the staff ace he’s expected to be. He carved through the first six frames, silencing a lineup that had roughed him up before. A 16-out string—bookended by a lone leadoff single—showed how sharp he was before things unraveled in the seventh. Two quick walks, a single, and a hit batsman loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly and a two-run double brought the Rangers within three, prompting a furious glove slam and standing ovation from 35, 474 fans. Woo’s final line still glows: seven innings, two earned runs, four hits, one walk, six strikeouts, and his first win of the season. Over his last five starts against Texas he owns a 3-1 record and a tidy 1. 15 earned-run average. Not bad for a pitcher who entered the year ticketed for Triple-A. What stands out is Seattle’s split personality with Texas. They’ve now won two of the last three series, yet Woo and company still can’t shake the Rangers completely. One strong afternoon doesn’t erase the sting of several close losses, but it does show the lineup’s power upside when everyone swings hot.