Lowe plates winning run during 3-run 8th and Rangers rally to beat Mariners 5-4 in Rocker's debut

SEATTLE (AP) — Nathaniel Lowe drove in the go-ahead run for Texas with an infield single during a three-run eighth inning and hit a homer in the seventh, as the Rangers erased a three-run deficit for a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night in top prospect Kumar Rocker’s major league debut.

After Lowe made it a 4-2 game with his seventh-inning homer, Marcus Semien brought Texas within one with a solo homer off Collin Snider (3-3) in the eighth.

Josh Smith reached on an error, Wyatt Langford doubled, and Adolis García drove in Smith on a groundout to shortstop to tie the game at 4-4.

Lowe then hit an infield single to second base to score Langford from third.

Rocker struck out seven while allowing one run on three hits over four innings in his first big league start. The only run he allowed came on a solo homer from Justin Turner in the fourth.

Rocker allowed back-to-back singles to lead off the first inning, but retired the next six batters. He walked two in the third, but kept Seattle off the board until Turner's shot.

“I feel like the whole game I was trying to find my rhythm, and that’s just, that’s part of the moment, that’s part of it being a new experience,” Rocker said. “And can’t really get frustrated from it, but learn from it."

Rocker threw 74 pitches and induced 17 swings and misses from Mariners hitters, thanks in part to his slider.

“Great job, great job,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “Poise, presence, he just looked good out there, didn’t he? I mean, first inning couldn’t have gotten off to a tougher start for him, but he kept his composure, he pitched out of a tough jam and just solid four innings there."

Josh Jung gave Texas the early lead with a solo homer in the second, but the Rangers couldn’t score again off Bryce Miller, who allowed one run on five hits over six innings, with seven strikeouts.

“We let Miller get into rhythm,” Lowe said. “Like any major league starter, you get in rhythm and you’re in control, it’s really tough to score. So I felt like we did a good job kind of slowing it down a little bit, getting some good pitches to hit, and then we touched the plate when we needed to.”

Randy Arozarena drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the fifth inning to give the Mariners a two-run lead. Cal Raleigh scored on a wild pitch later in the inning to make it 4-1.

Matt Festa (4-1) got the win with a scoreless seventh.

Kirby Yates pitched the ninth inning for his 30th save.

The loss drops the Mariners to 4 1/2 games behind Houston in the AL West standings, and 4 1/2 games back of Minnesota for the third AL wild card.

“Tough eighth inning,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “A couple of ground balls, just a well-placed chopper and a ball off the glove, and it's a tough way to take it."

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers SS Corey Seager will undergo season-ending sports hernia surgery, Rangers GM Chris Young announced on Thursday.

ROSTER MOVE

To make space for Rocker on the roster, RHP Chase Anderson was designated for assignment.

UP NEXT

Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom will make his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2023 on Friday. The Mariners have not announced their starter.

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Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker, center, greets his father and Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, left, and mother Lalitha Rocker, right, after his major league debut in a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Tayler Saucedo reacts to giving the Texas Rangers the lead on an RBI single by Texas Rangers' Nathaniel Lowe during the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez strikes out to end the game in a 5-4 loss to the Texas Rangers in a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim, left, greets relief pitcher Kirby Yates, right, after Yates earned the save in a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Kirby Yates throws against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien, left, celebrates a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners with teammates, including Josh Smith, right, after a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez catches the double hit by Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford after it bounces in front of him during the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers' Adolis García hits into a groundout to score Josh Smith against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers' Nathaniel Lowe jogs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers' Nathaniel Lowe follows through on an RBI single to score Wyatt Langford as Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh looks on during the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

MIAMI (AP) — Jesús Sánchez doubled twice and drove in three runs, and the Miami Marlins beat Shohei Ohtani and the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers 11-9 on Tuesday night.

Ohtani struck out three times but hit his 48th home run as he tries to become the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. He did not steal a base for the fifth straight game and remains at 48.

Sánchez went 5 for 5, while Otto Lopez and Jake Burger homered for the Marlins.

Connor Norby became the first Marlin with four runs scored in a single game this season. He went 2 for 3 with a single, double and two walks. Kyle Stowers had an RBI triple in the fourth and added a run-scoring double in the sixth for the Marlins, who had 15 hits.

Max Muncy singled in a run, doubled and stole a base for the Dodgers, who began the day 3 1/2 games ahead of second-place San Diego, which was set to play Houston later Tuesday.

Reliever Anthony Veneziano picked up his first major league win after striking out two and allowing one hit over 1 1/3 inning.

The Marlins scored four runs in the first two innings off starter Bobby Miller, who was lifted after allowing seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts. The Dodgers responded with a four-run third jumpstarted by Ohtani's two-run shot against starter Darren McCaughan that he crushed 402 feet to right.

Michael Grove (4-4) took the loss after relieving Miller in the third and giving up a go-ahead RBI double to Sánchez in the fourth that made it 6-5. Sánchez then scored on Stowers' triple, and the Marlins didn't relinquish their lead from there.

McCaughan pitched 3 2/3 innings, surrendering six hits, five runs and striking out four. Miguel Rojas also homered off McCaughan in the fourth that tied it at five.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: Manager Dave Roberts said RHP Tony Gonsolin will make another rehab start soon and could rejoin the team if that goes well. Gonsolin hasn't pitched since having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last August.

Marlins: RHP Sandy Alcantara threw his first live batting practice since having Tommy John surgery in October. ... LHP Braxton Garrett allowed three hits in five innings and 80 pitches in a start for Triple-A Jacksonville.

UP NEXT

Dodgers RHP Landon Knack (2-4, 3.70 ERA) will start the second game of the series. The Marlins have not named a starter yet, but manager Skip Schumaker said Ryan Weathers (3-5, 3.55) will likely be on the mound.

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

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts (50) scores on a sacrifice hit by Freddie Freeman during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts (50) a triple to center field during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers hits a triple to right field during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Miguel Rojas (11) celebrates after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller aims a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Miami Marlins' Otto Lopez gestures after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Miami Marlins' Jesús Sánchez (12) hits a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)