Kikuchi shines, Mariners beat Rangers 4-2 to complete 4-game sweep

May 30, 2021, 4:59 PM | Updated: 6:00 pm

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Kyle Lewis #1 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after defeating the Texas Rangers 4-2 at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Keynan Middleton #99 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after forcing the final out to defeat the Texas Rangers 4-2 at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners throws to first base to force an out during the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners warms up before the game against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Keynan Middleton #99 of the Seattle Mariners warms up before the game against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Hyeon-Jong Yang #36 of the Texas Rangers pitches during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Ty France #23 of the Seattle Mariners hits a RBI double to take a 1-0 lead against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Willie Calhoun #5 of the Texas Rangers follows the RBI double hit by Ty France #23 of the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Kyle Seager #15 celebrates in the dugout after scoring off a two-run single by Ty France #23 of the Seattle Mariners during the third inning against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Hyeon-Jong Yang #36 of the Texas Rangers reacts while having a conversation on the mound with teammates after getting into a jam during the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Adolis Garcia #53 of the Texas Rangers commits a fielding error while attempting to catch a hit by Kyle Lewis #1 of the Seattle Mariners during the third inning at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Demarcus Evans #67 of the Texas Rangers pitches during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners reacts during the third inning against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Hyeon-Jong Yang #36 of the Texas Rangers pitches during the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers celebrates while crossing home plate after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners reacts while exiting the game during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners hands the game ball over to manager Scott Servais #9 during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30: Donovan Walton #31 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after hitting a double during the second inning against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on May 30, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — Yusei Kikuchi took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning, Kyle Seager homered and the Seattle Mariners sent the Texas Rangers to their 12th straight road loss, 4-2 on Sunday.

Mariners 4, Rangers 2: Box score

The Rangers matched a team record for most consecutive road losses set in 2003. Texas is off Monday before continuing its trip with three games at Colorado.

“I think I just saw a lot of frustration out there today,” Texas manager Chris Woodward said. “… This is clearly a game we needed. We needed to reset before we go to Colorado.”

Seattle has won a season-best four in a row. Texas has lost six straight overall.

Kikuchi (3-3) faced one batter over the minimum through five innings before allowing a hit to Willie Calhoun to lead off the sixth. Joey Gallo hit a two-run homer in the seventh.

Kikuchi allowed three hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out five with one walk in his sixth straight quality start.

JT Chargois, Paul Sewald and Keynan Middleton combined on 2 1/3 innings of one-hit relief. Middleton got his fourth save.

Ty France drove in three runs with a pair of singles in his first two at-bats against Hyeon-Jong Yang (0-3).

He's heating up 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hKdDY60u0q

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) May 30, 2021

Seager added a solo homer and Kyle Lewis scored twice. It was the Mariners’ first series sweep this season.

Just another Seager Sunday. pic.twitter.com/c89BSVeJI5

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) May 30, 2021

Seattle has won six of seven since to return to .500 after a team meeting in San Diego where the Mariners were dealing with a COVID-19 crisis amid a series sweep by the Padres.

“There are three or four times over the course of a season where you have to circle the wagons,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: An MRI showed RHP Erik Swanson’s strained right groin is more seriously injured than the team hoped. The reliever could be out longer than 10 days, manager Scott Servais said. Swanson strained the muscle before his May 28 appearance, but pitched through it and aggravated it further. Seattle has 15 players on the injured list.

UP NEXT

Rangers: RHP Dane Dunning (2-4, 4.75) takes the mound at Colorado on Tuesday after giving up a career-high seven runs in his last start.

Mariners: Rookie RHP Logan Gilbert (0-2, 7.59) makes his fourth career start. He faces Oakland again five days after his best outing, giving up two runs on four hits over four innings in a no-decision against the Athletics.

Jake & Stacy: Is Crawford forcing the M’s to reconsider plans at SS?