SEATTLE (AP) — Vidal Nuno allowed one hit over seven dominant innings for his first victory in more than a year, and Mark Trumbo and Kyle Seager each had four hits and a two-run homer to lead the Seattle Mariners past the Texas Rangers 6-0 Wednesday night.
Nuno (1-2) had gone 20 starts without a win, which was tied with Atlanta right-hander Shelby Miller for the longest active stretch in the majors. The left-hander struck out a career-high 10 and yielded only Prince Fielder’s first-inning single. He walked two and hit a pair of batters with pitches.
As a starter, Nuno was 0-10 with a 4.17 ERA since his previous win on June 27, 2014, with the New York Yankees. Nuno also made 24 relief appearances during that span without a victory.
Danny Farquhar and Carson Smith each followed with a perfect inning to finish the one-hitter.
Martin Perez (2-5) allowed five runs and seven hits with three walks in five-plus innings. The Rangers began the day one game behind first-place Houston in the AL West.
Trumbo put the Mariners up 3-0 in third with a two-run homer to left field following a one-out single by Seager.
Seattle extended the lead to 5-0 in the fifth. Ketel Marte drew a one-out walk and Seager followed with his 23rd home run, driving a 1-2 pitch to right-center.
The Mariners added a run in the seventh on a walk to Shawn O’Malley and singles by Seager and Trumbo.
Seattle took a 1-0 lead in the first, loading the bases on consecutive one-out singles by Seager, Trumbo and Robinson Cano. Jesus Montero hit a potential double-play grounder to second baseman Rougned Odor, who mishandled the ball and settled for the force at second, allowing Seager to score.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: CF Delino DeShields, who sprained his left knee on a hard slide Monday, sat out and probably will not play in the series finale Thursday. “He may push me to think about tomorrow, but I would think the earliest would be Friday,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said before the game. “That’s where I’m looking at. I’d like to get through the next two days and not need to use him.”
Mariners: OF Nelson Cruz, second in the majors with 39 homers, sat out for the sixth consecutive game with a strained right quadriceps. “He’s close. You’ve got to be able to run,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “He’s done some steps. We’ll test him today, probably.” … OF Franklin Gutierrez was sidelined for a fifth straight game with a strained right groin.
UP NEXT
Rangers: LHP Derek Holland (3-1, 2.37 ERA) is 3-0 with a 2.15 ERA in four starts since coming off the disabled list Aug. 19. He is 3-0 with a 1.39 ERA in six career games — including four starts — at Safeco Field.
Mariners: RHP Felix Hernandez (16-8, 3.65) has won his last two starts, pitching eight innings each time. He is 15-21 in 45 starts against Texas, his most vs. any opponent, but 3-0 with a 2.18 ERA in three outings this season against the Rangers.