SEATTLE (AP) — Bartolo Colon laughed off having a line drive hit him in the stomach, allowing four hits in 7 2/3 shutout innings and giving the Texas Rangers a 5-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.
On the cusp of his 45th birthday, Colon (2-1) put together arguably his best performance this season. Colon was excellent spotting his fastball and using his breaking pitches to keep Seattle off balance, a night after the Mariners scored nine runs.
Delino DeShields gave Texas the lead with a two-out RBI double in the eighth inning to score Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The Rangers added four more in the ninth, all after Ryon Healy’s two-out error and two runs scoring on a wacky strikeout.
Ronald Guzman struck out swinging with the bases loaded and two outs, but catcher David Freitas couldn’t handle the pitch from Marc Rzepczynski. Jurickson Profar scored from third on the passed ball and Kiner-Falefa from second after Freitas made an unnecessary throw trying to get Guzman at first base.
But Colon was the story, including taking the brunt of Jean Segura’s line drive off his stomach in the fourth inning, then laughing about it as Rangers staff came to check on him. It was the second time this season he pitched into the eighth, the previous against Houston when he was perfect through seven innings. Colon struck out two and threw 71 of 96 pitches for strikes.
Jose Leclerc ended a brief Seattle threat in the eighth inning, getting Segura to pop out on the first pitch with runners on second and third.
Kyle Seager homered in the ninth.
Seattle starter Christian Bergman didn’t allow a hit until Kiner-Falefa reached on an infielder grounder in the fifth inning. Bergman allowed two hits in seven shutout innings making a spot start after being recalled from Triple-A. He was lifted to start the eighth inning after striking out five and throwing 90 pitches.
James Pazos (1-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up two hits opening the eighth.
POSITION SWITCH
Seattle manager Scott Servais said there’s a chance Dee Gordon could be moved to second base sometime this weekend. Gordon played center field again Wednesday but did pregame work for a second straight day at his old position.
ROSTER MOVE
To clear a spot for Bergman on the 25-man roster, right-handed reliever Eric Goeddel was designated for assignment by the Mariners. He is out of minor league options.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: Elvis Andrus will join the team in Chicago and may be able to resume baseball activities like fielding and playing catch. Andrus has been out since breaking his right elbow on April 12.
Mariners: Nelson Cruz was sore a day after getting hit by a pitch on his right foot and leaving a game early. Servais expects it will be a few days before Cruz is back in the lineup but didn’t believe a DL stint was needed.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Cole Hamels (2-4) makes his 10th start as the Rangers open a series against the Chicago White Sox. Hamels has a 2.73 ERA in his past five starts.
Mariners: Marco Gonzales (3-3) makes his ninth start of the season as the Mariners open a series against Detroit. Gonzales has thrown six innings in each of his last four starts, but took the loss in his last outing also against the Tigers.