ARLINGTON, Texas — They weren’t going to be held down for the entire series. The hard contact was going to yield not just hits, but homers. And they were eventually going to score runs. Their lineup features too many proven hitters to be stymied for an entire series.

A night after being shut out by the Mariners, the Texas Rangers ended a stretch of 13 consecutive scoreless innings, blasting a pair of solo homers in the fourth inning off Mariners starter Bryce Miller and tacking on more runs in what would eventually be a 5-1 victory.

While the Mariners believe in the overall success of their pitching staff, they also knew that the Rangers were going to score runs eventually.

They needed to just limit the runs with clean play in the field, while also scoring runs at a similar rate to keep the game close.

They did neither.

Looking for a little redemption in native Texas against a team that tormented him last season, Miller hoped the addition of a split-finger fastball and better command of a two-seam fastball might help combat against the Rangers’ slew of left-handed and switch hitters.

As a rookie, Miller made two starts against Texas and gave up a combined 13 runs on 14 hits in 6 2/3 innings pitched, including five doubles and three homers.

From a statistical and potential aspect, this outing was better.

Miller’s final line: four innings pitched, two runs allowed on four hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

He actually pitched into the fifth inning but didn’t record an out, walking Marcus Semien, the first and only batter he faced.

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