SEATTLE — Streaking Nelson Cruz hit his 33rd home run and Felix Hernandez earned his 14th win Sunday, leading the Seattle Mariners over the Texas Rangers 4-2.
Cruz tied Angels star Mike Trout for most homers in the majors this season. Hernandez (14-6) is tied for the most wins in the big leagues.
Cruz extended his hitting streak to 19 games, tying a career best, with his solo shot off Colby Lewis (12-5) in the sixth. The Seattle slugger is batting .422 with 11 home runs, six doubles and 15 RBIs during the streak.
The homer was Cruz’s seventh home run in his last nine games. He has gotten an extra-base hit in nine straight games, one behind the team record set by Ken Griffey Jr. in 1993.
Hernandez pitched seven innings, giving up two runs and six hits. He struck out five and walked one.
Since 2014, Hernandez is 15-4 with a 2.38 in 29 starts against AL West opponents. In his last six home starts against the AL West, he is 6-0 with a 1.49 ERA.
Carson Smith worked the ninth for his 12th save in 14 opportunities.
Lewis worked eight innings his first complete game, allowing five hits, walking one and striking out six.
Jesus Montero hit a two-run homer off Lewis in the fourth.
The Rangers scored a run in the second on Rougned Odor’s slicing RBI double just inside the left-field line. Hernandez’s wild pitch in the third gave the Ranges a 2-0 lead.
The Mariners got one back in the third on Ketel Marte’s single for his first career RBI.
Prince Fielder, 0 for 17 in his career against Hernandez, singled in his first two at-bats against him.
Texas manager Jeff Banister was ejected by plate umpire Lance Barrett in the eighth for excessive arguing from the dugout. It was his third season ejection.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: LHP James Paxton, on the DL since May 29 with a strained left middle finger, threw 25 pitches in a bullpen session before the game. There is still no timetable for his next step. OF Franklin Gutierrez missed his second game with flu-like symptoms.
UP NEXT
Mariners: LHP Vidal Nuno (0-0, 2.88) is looking for his first win with the Mariners, having been acquired June 3 in a trade with Colorado and promoted July 9. In three appearances against Baltimore two starts he is 0-2 with an 11.17 ERA, all with the Yankees.
