Jon Gray Dominates, Texas Rangers Rally to Beat Mariners

The Texas Rangers opened their first series against the American League West rival Seattle Mariners with a road victory.

Jon Gray turned in a spectacular start and the Texas Rangers rallied late to beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 Monday night at T-Mobile Park.

The American League West-leading Rangers (21-13) have won three in row and moved to eight games over .500 for the first time since 2019. It’s also the third-best record after 34 games in club history.

Texas is 7-3 against the division after the first game this season against the Mariners.

Gray rebounded from giving up a home run in the first to clamp down. The right-hander improved to 2-1 after going seven innings, allowing just that one run on four hits and striking out eight.

Jonathan Hernández relieved Gray in the eighth and hit two Mariners, leading manager Bruce Bochy to turn to Brock Burke with two outs. In the lefty-on-lefty matchup, Burke struck out Jarred Kelenic swinging to end the inning.

Will Smith pitched a scoreless ninth by striking out the side for his fifth save.

Seattle starter Logan Gilbert had a perfect game through six innings before the Rangers finally broke through with three hits, a walk and, finally, some runs in the seventh.

Texas loaded the bases with one out, with Josh Jung sending a fly ball into the right-field corner to score Marcus Semien from third. Jonah Heim followed with a flair to center that scored Nathaniel Lowe for a 2-1 lead.

The Rangers have scored 103 runs this season with two outs – the most in the Majors. Texas also has eight comeback wins.

The Mariners (17-18) got on the board in the first on a solo shot from Ty France to right.

Andrew Heaney (2-2, 5.52) is on the mound as Texas goes for the series win Tuesday night. George Kirby (3-2, 3.11) starts for Seattle, with game time scheduled for 8:40 p.m. CT.

More From SI’s Inside The Rangers:

1. Texas Rangers New Nike City Connect Jersey Pay Homage to Dallas-Fort Worth
2. Arlington Mayor Says Rougned Odor ‘Punch’ Mural to Stay
3. Texas Rangers Clubhouse ‘Insane’ Says Reliever
4. Texas Rangers MVP in 2023?
5. Predicting Texas Rangers 2023 Record
6. Jose Altuve Injury Potentially Helps Texas Rangers Playoff Chances
7. MLB Plan for Television Texas Rangers
8. Why did Bochy Tab deGrom for Opening Day?
9. Bally Sports Southwest to Televise Nearly All Rangers Games
10. Texas Rangers Unveil Exciting New Ballpark Food

---

You can follow Art Garcia on Twitter @ArtGarcia92.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook, and Twitter.