By Chris Talbott | The Associated Press
SEATTLE — Sam Haggerty and Kyle Lewis homered, Justin Dunn pitched one-hit ball over six innings and the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 4-1 on Sunday.
The trio of rookies sent the sliding Rangers to their eighth straight loss and helped the Mariners to their first series win and sweep of the season. Seattle has won five of six at home with three straight wins against the Rangers coming from 24-year-old rookie starters.
“I think that’s the biggest thing,” Dunn said. “We’re getting comfortable, we’re finding our routines, we’re getting in a groove and we’re having fun — so that’s first and foremost.”
Haggerty, an offseason waiver pickup from the New York Mets who’s been playing in a utility role due to injuries, made it 4-0 with a two-run home run to left field in the fifth inning. It was his first career home run.
Lewis hit his seventh home run of the season in the first inning, tying White Sox slugger Luis Robert for the major league lead among rookies.
“I say it all the time: That’s ‘Showtime,’ ” Dunn said of the nickname he’s given the AL Rookie of the Year candidate. “That’s all I got for you. Hopefully, in a couple of months here it will be ‘ROY.’ He’s a blessed player.”
Austin Nola made it 2-0 in the second with his own solo homer.
Dunn (2-1), one of three 24-year olds-in the Mariners’ rotation, picked up his second career win — both against the Rangers. He faced one batter over the minimum through four innings, striking out six and walking one in six innings total. His only blemish was Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s fifth-inning double.
“I thought his fastball the first couple innings had a lot more life to it today than we’ve seen recently,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Everybody knows he’s got a really good breaking ball, but you’ve got to have something else to go along with it, and today he really did.”
Taylor Williams pitched the ninth, earning his sixth save.
Up next
Mariners: LHP Marco Gonzales (2-2, 3.34) takes the mound Tuesday as Seattle travels to San Diego on Tuesday after a day off.
That game is at 6:10 p.m. on ROOT Sports.
