Corey Seager extends hitting streak to 14 games, Rangers beat Marlins 7-0

MIAMI (AP) — Corey Seager singled twice and doubled to extend his hitting streak to 14 games and the Texas Rangers beat the Miami Marlins 7-0 on Saturday.

The star shortstop, who also has an on-base streak of 24 games, is 19 for 51 during the stretch that began on May 14.

Marcus Semien also had two singles and a double, while Robbie Grossman doubled and singled for the Rangers, who finished with 13 hits despite striking out 16 times.

“Offense — what a great job they did,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “Throughout the order we had better swings. They did a good job of attacking the baseball.”

Michael Lorenzen (3-3) threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings for his first win since April 21. The right-hander allowed five hits and walked two.

The Marlins stranded base runners in scoring position against Lorenzen in each of the first three innings. Lorenzen then had one batter reach the remainder of his outing.

“Pitching is all about problem solving,” Lorenzen said. “You go into a game reading swings and seeing what they’re doing. You have an approach to them but they also have an approach to you. That all happens as the game goes on. I think my adjustments get better and I get better at solving that puzzle.”

Signed as a free agent, the 32-year-old Lorenzen has been a valuable addition to the rotation after the departure of Jordan Montgomery to free agency in the offseason and a groin injury that sidelined Nathan Eovaldi for four weeks in May.

“He’s one of those guys who’s a horse on the staff,” Bochy said. “It’s a big sign for us. Amazing that he was available. Competes so well. Good poise out there.”

Marlins starter Ryan Weathers struck out a career high 11 in six innings. Weathers (3-5) gave up four runs and nine hits.

“Six innings, 11 punchouts and four runs, I’ll take that all day,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “Ryan gave us a shot to win the game. There just wasn’t much offense today.”

José Leclerc, Jacob Latz and Gerson Garabito followed Lorenzen and got the final eight outs to complete the shutout.

Grossman’s RBI double and Adolis Garcia’s sacrifice fly against Weathers in the third put Texas ahead 2-0.

The Rangers padded their lead in the fourth, when Wyatt Langford scored from third on Miami right-fielder Jesús Sanchez’s throwing error after fielding Josh Smith’s single. Smith advanced to third on a groundout and then scored on Andrew Knizner’s sacrifice fly.

Grossman made it 5-0 with his run-scoring single off reliever Andrew Nardi in the seventh and Langford added a two-run single in the ninth.

“We had things go our way,” Grossman said. “We got some timely hits. It was a good day for the Rangers.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: RHP Max Scherzer (back surgery) threw a bullpen session before the game. The three-time Cy Young award winner has not pitched this season and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 15.

Marlins: Placed catcher Christian Bethancourt on the bereavement list and selected the contract of catcher Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A Jacksonville. … OF Avisaíl García (left hamstring strain) tripled in five at-bats during a rehab game with Jacksonville on Friday.

UP NEXT

LHP Andrew Heaney (1-6, 4.49 ERA) will start the series finale for the Rangers on Sunday while the Marlins will go with LHP Trevor Rogers (1-6, 5.65).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

From left to right, Texas Rangers' Nathaniel Lowe, Leody Taveras, Josh Smith and Adolis García celebrate after defeating the Miami Marlins in a baseball game, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Texas Rangers' Adolis García, center, and Robbie Grossman (4) react after scoring against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Miami Marlins pitcher Huascar Brazoban (31) steps on home plate as Marlins catcher Johnny Pereda, front right, steps aside to force out Texas Rangers' Corey Seager, bottom, during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Miami Marlins outfielder Nick Gordon, right, catches a fly ball hit by Texas Rangers' Josh Smith (not shown) during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker, top, watches his team play the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Miami Marlins catcher Johnny Pereda, right, forces out Texas Rangers' Marcus Semien, left, during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Miami Marlins pitcher Ryan Weathers throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) throws to first base after forcing out Miami Marlins' Bryan De La Cruz (14) during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Texas Rangers pitcher Michael Lorenzen throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

PARIS (AP) — France’s new government dominated by conservatives and centrists gathered for the first time Monday as Prime Minister Michel Barnier set budget and migrant issues as top priorities.

Barnier convened a meeting early morning with newly appointed ministers ahead of a brief Cabinet session in the afternoon with centrist President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee presidential palace.

The long-awaited list of government members was unveiled Saturday, more than two months after elections that produced a hung parliament and deepened political divisions as France grapples with growing financial and diplomatic challenges.

Macron told government members Monday a “new era” was starting as the political situation is unprecedented in the country and called on them to “stay on the path to compromise,” according to participants in the Cabinet meeting.

Speaking on television on Sunday evening, Barnier acknowledged a key challenge for his government will be the 2025 budget bill to be debated at parliament starting next month.

Barnier called on France 2 television for a “national effort required to redress the situation" after France was placed earlier this year by the European Union's executive arm under a formal procedure for running up excessive debt.

“I’m not going to further increase the tax burden on all French people,” Barnier promised, yet suggesting that “the wealthiest contribute to this national effort.”

In June, the EU Commission recommended to seven nations, including France, that they start a so-called “excessive deficit procedure,” the first step in a long process before any member state can be hemmed in and moved to take corrective action.

Barnier also vowed to “control and limit immigration" in Sunday's interview. He said the number of migrants coming to France “has become unbearable.”

He referred to measures taken by neighboring countries like Germany, which this month ordered temporary controls at all land borders.

Barnier was appointed at the beginning of the month. His first major political test will come on Oct. 1, when he is set to deliver his general policy speech to the National Assembly, France’s powerful lower house of parliament.

A left-wing coalition, the New Popular Front, secured the most seats in the June-July parliamentary elections but failed to win a majority.

The New Popular Front was not given a chance to form a minority government, and refused to make concessions and join a more left-leaning government alliance.

Barnier argued that the deal made by his conservative allies and Macron's centrists would allow them to have a bigger support at the National Assembly.

Barnier, a 73-year-old political veteran known for his role as the EU’s Brexit negotiator, is no stranger to complex political tasks.

“We’ll make compromises,” he said. “That’s how I managed to unite the European Union’s 27 countries during the Brexit negotiations."

Barnier also insisted there will be “no controversy” between him and Macron despite both coming from a different political background, because "that’s the interest of the country.”

Macron is to head Tuesday to New York for the U.N. General Assembly, before a two-day visit to Canada.

In France, the president holds a dominant role in strategic matters of defense and foreign policy while the prime minister leads the government and usually focuses more on domestic issues.

Left-wing voters and other critics have denounced the appointment of a government they say rejects people's will.

Incoming ministers include staunch conservative Bruno Retailleau, in charge of the interior portfolio. Retailleau, known for his hardline views on immigration, vowed Monday to “restore order" in “the streets” and “at the borders.”

Jean-Noël Barrot, a centrist politician known for his work in digital transformation and European affairs, is the new foreign minister.

New French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, gestures as he delivers a speech during the handover ceremony at the ministry, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

New French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, gestures as he delivers a speech during the handover ceremony at the ministry, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

New French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, right, attends the handover ceremony at the ministry, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

New French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot gets out of a car as he arrives for the handover ceremony, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 in Paris. (Thomas Samson, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Prime Minister Michel Barnier, right, meet with members of the new government during the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool)

New Justice Minister Didier Migaud, arrives to the first weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

New Finance Minister Antoine Armand, waves to journalist as he arrives to the first weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

French President Emmanuel Macron, center, is flanked by new Justice Minister Didier Migaud, left, and new Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau during the first weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool)

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier boards a car after the first weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier boards a car after the first weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

FILE - French Prime Minister Michel Barnier, background center, French President Emmanuel Macron, foreground left, and Macron's wife, Brigitte Macron, foreground right, applaud during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paralympics, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)