Mariners Knock Rangers From First Place In AL West

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ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers were supposed to be returning to the cozy confines of home after a grueling 17-game stretch in 17 consecutive days, including the last 10 on the road.

Instead, the Rangers offense was muted again in a 4-0 shutout loss to the Seattle Mariners in their series opener Tuesday night at Globe Life Field.

The win moves the Mariners a half-game ahead of the Rangers in first place in the American League West. It’s the first time in 2024 the Rangers haven’t at least been tied atop the division.

Right-hander Logan Gilbert mystified Rangers bats into the seventh inning, limiting Texas to two hits and four walks while striking out six in 6.2 innings.

Gilbert held Texas hitless until Josh Smith’s two-out double to the right-field corner in the fourth inning. He retired the next seven batters before Nathaniel Lowe led off the seventh with a double. Gilbert recorded the next two outs, including a foul-tip strikeout against Wyatt Langford on a slider below the zone. Ryne Stanek forced Leody Taveras to ground out to keep the Rangers off the board in the seventh.

Seattle Mariners 4, Texas Rangers 0

Three thoughts from the Rangers series opener against the Mariners:

Rangers Blanked

For the second time this season, the Rangers were shut out. Both games were at Globe Life Field. The Oakland Athletics beat the Rangers 1-0 on April 11.

Texas has been held to two or fewer runs in eight games this season. The Rangers entered Tuesday’s game tied for third in the American League with 114 runs scored.

The Rangers were held to two hits. It’s the third time the club has been held to two or fewer hits in 2024. They had a season-low one hit in the 1-0 April 11 loss to Oakland.

The Rangers are 0-6 when they collect six or fewer hits.

Dane Dunning Done Early

Dane Dunning hadn’t allowed more than three earned runs in each of his first four starts. On Tuesday, he was touched for four earned runs in the first three innings on a pair of two-run homers, including Cal Raleigh’s two-run homer to right in the first inning and Julio Rodríguez’s two-run homer to left-center field in the third inning.

Dunning walked two with one out in the fifth before being replaced by Jose Urena. After allowing a single to load the bases, Urena induced a 6-4-3 double play to escape the inning.

Dunning allowed four runs on four hits and three walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out seven.

It’s the first time Dunning hasn’t pitched at least five innings in 2024.

Rangers Sign Johnny Cueto

The Rangers announced during Tuesday’s game that they signed veteran right-hander Johnny Cueto to a minor league contract. Cueto will report to the Rangers spring training complex in Surprise, Ariz., before likely joining Triple-A Round Rock.

Cueto was 1-4 with a 6.02 ERA in 13 games (10 starts) for the Miami Marlins in 2023. He turned 38 in February. In seven minor league starts between Triple-A Jacksonville and Double-A Pensacola in 2023, Cueto had a 10.24 ERA in 29 innings.

Cueto was an All-Star in 2014 and 2016. He was 8-10 with a 3.35 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) with the Chicago White Sox in 2022.

The Rangers need to improve their pitching depth and are likely taking a low-risk chance that Cueto can rediscover what he had in 2022.

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on X @StefanVersusTex.

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