ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas is making a habit of late-game drama.
The Rangers erased a midgame deficit and rode a decisive fifth inning to a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night, securing their first series win over Seattle since September 2023 and their second straight come-from-behind triumph.
At 6-5, Texas has now opened the season above .500 for the fourth consecutive year, continuing a stretch of early consistency not seen often in franchise history. The win also marked the club’s third straight one-run game.
Seattle struck immediately when Brendan Donovan launched the first pitch he saw over the right-field wall, giving the Mariners a quick 1-0 lead. It was the second time in his career he’s homered on the opening pitch of a game this season, and it set the tone for a tight contest.
Nathan Eovaldi, making the 300th start of his career, settled in after the early jolt. The veteran right-hander worked six innings, allowing two runs while striking out seven. He also reached a personal milestone in the first inning, recording the 1,500th strikeout of his career. After Seattle added a second run in the fifth on a soft RBI single from Cal Raleigh, Eovaldi kept the damage contained and gave Texas a chance to respond.
The Rangers did just that in the bottom half.
Evan Carter put Texas on the board with an RBI single to center, snapping a season-opening drought and cutting the deficit to one. Moments later, Kyle Higashioka delivered the turning point, driving a two-run homer to left to flip the score and give Texas a 3-2 lead. The blast, his first of the season, came off the bat at over 107 mph and proved to be the difference.
Higashioka also collected his first multi-hit performance of the year, continuing a strong start at the plate.
Seattle starter George Kirby was sharp for much of the night despite the loss. The right-hander went the distance, allowing three runs over eight innings without issuing a walk. He retired the final 12 batters he faced and needed just 90 pitches to complete his outing, but the fifth-inning swing by Higashioka proved costly.
Out of the bullpen, Jacob Latz provided a flawless bridge for Texas, retiring all six hitters he faced across two innings. Opponents have yet to record a hit against the left-hander this season.
The Mariners have now dropped four straight games, each by a single run, and remain in search of their first series win of the year.
Texas will look to complete the sweep in the series finale and salvage a split homestand after dropping three straight to Cincinnati to begin the week.
