Marcus Semien's RBI single gives the Rangers a 6-5 walk-off win over the Mariners

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Marcus Semien’s line single into the left field corner scored Leody Taveras as the Texas Rangers rallied from a five-run deficit in a 6-5, walk-off win over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday in the defending World Series champions’ home finale.

“It hasn’t been the year we wanted, but the fans still show up for us,” Semien said following the win in front of the Rangers’ eighth sellout crowd this season. “Glad we ended it like that. We just want to finish strong.”

The Rangers, who were eliminated from postseason contention on Friday, improved to 7-61 when trailing after six innings.

The Mariners are two games out of the last AL wild-card spot and five out of first place in the AL West with six games remaining. Seattle closes out the season with three games at first-place Houston and hosting the Oakland Athletics.

Taveras had tied the score at 5-all with a solo homer in the seventh inning and finished with three hits — all from the sixth inning onward.

The Mariners built a 5-0 lead on Dylan Moore’s RBI single in the second inning, Cal Raleigh’s solo home run in the third and a three-run sixth that included Victor Robles singling in two runs, stealing second base and scoring when a pickoff attempt led to two Texas errors.

The Rangers countered by cutting the deficit to one run in the sixth on an RBI single by Josh Smith and a three-run homer by Wyatt Langford off starter Bryan Woo, who allowed four runs on seven hits in six innings.

Raleigh hit his career-best 31st home run. Andrés Muñoz (3-7) took the loss.

Texas starter Andrew Heaney allowed four earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and a walk in 5 2/3 innings. Kirby Yates (7-2) worked an inning of relief and earned the victory.

SCHERZER’S FUTURE

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, placed on the injured list on Saturday with a hamstring strain, said he would like to return to the Texas Rangers after his contract expires next week.

“But I also know when you’re a free agent, you know, I’ve been in free agency two other times in my career. I get how this goes,” the 40-year-old Scherzer said.

Scherzer made 17 regular-season starts for the Rangers over a season and a half and pitched twice in last year’s ALCS and once in the World Series.

TAKING TWO FOR THE TEAM

The Mariners needed only two innings to tie and break the modern record for being hit by pitches in a season at 113. Raleigh was plunked by an 85 mph slider from Heaney in the first inning, and J.P. Crawford was tagged by a 90 mph fastball from Heaney in the second. The mark of 112 was held by the 2022 New York Mets.

UP NEXT

Mariners RHP Bryce Miller (11-8, 3.06 ERA) will open the series at Houston on Monday against Astros RHP Hunter Brown (11-8, 3.57 ERA).

Rangers RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-8, 3.96) will face Oakland RHP Mitch Spence (8-9, 4.30) on Tuesday in the opener of the Athletics’ final home series before they relocate to Sacramento next season with plans to move to Las Vegas in 2028.

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

Seattle Mariners' Dylan Moore celebrates after his single that scored teammate Justin Turner during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers' Leody Taveras hits a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh (29) runs the bases after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh (29) celebrates after his home run with teammate Justin Turner (2) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers' Leody Taveras, left, steals second base against Seattle Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco (7) during the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Seattle Mariners' Victor Robles (10) bumps into Texas Rangers third baseman Ezequiel Duran, front right, as a fielding error throw by Texas second baseman Marcus Semien misses the mark on a pickoff-attempt to third during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Andrew Heaney throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, left, reaches for a throw from teammate Ezequiel Duran against Seattle Mariners' Jorge Polanco (7) for a groundout at first base during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers' Marcus Semien, center, is congratulated by teammates after hitting a single that scored Leody Taveras during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.(AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers' Leody Taveras, left, is congratulated by third base coach Tony Beasley, right, after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi State senior starting quarterback Blake Shapen will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a shoulder injury that will require surgery.

The school announced that Shapen would be out on Saturday night, hours after the Bulldogs fell 45-28 at home to Florida in its Southeastern Conference opener. The Baylor transfer was injured in the fourth quarter and left the game after completing 13 of 21 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown; he also rushed 12 times for 32 yards and a score.

Shapen completed 69% of his passes for 974 yards and eight TDs with an interception in four games for the rebuilding Bulldogs (1-3, 0-1 SEC). He also rushed 34 times for 36 net yards and two scores. He came to MSU after throwing for 4,978 yards and 31 touchdowns as a two-year starter at Baylor and earned MVP honors in the 2021 Big 12 Conference championship game.

First-year MSU coach Jeff Lebby said he was “hurting” for Shapen after hearing the news and would explore options to help him seek a medical hardship waiver to regain his lost season of eligibility.

“Blake is the ultimate competitor and teammate and an unquestioned leader in our program,” Lebby said. “I know he will work incredibly hard to come back stronger than ever, and he will continue to serve as a team leader from the sidelines.”

The Bulldogs visit top-ranked Texas (4-0, 1-0) on Saturday.

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Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen (2) looks to pass against Florida defensive end Kelby Collins (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/James Pugh)