ARLINGTON, Texas – Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton felt no better Tuesday night, still dealing with the sinus infection and upper respiratory problem that had kept him out of the lineup the previous day.
And Hamilton was still all the offense for the Rangers, hitting his majors-leading 21st homer and driving in all their runs in a 10-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners in the most lopsided loss of the season for AL West leaders.
"It's Josh Hamilton," manager Ron Washington said. "He went out, he worked, he said he felt good enough to play and he played, and he delivered three runs for us, but it just wasn't enough because we couldn't get anything going."
Hamilton's two-run homer to straightaway center in the sixth cut the Texas deficit to 4-3.
But the first seven Seattle batters reached in the eighth, six hits and an error by shortstop Elvis Andrus, against two of the Rangers' top setup relievers — Alexi Ogando and Mike Adams. Ichiro Suzuki then greeted the third Texas pitcher of the inning with a sacrifice fly.
"I don't think you'll see again I have to out and get Mike and Ogando in the same inning," Washington said. "They put the ball in play, found holes."
Despite having their four-game winning streak snapped, the Rangers (31-19) still matched their best 50-game record in team history.
Seattle starter Jason Vargas (6-4) allowed three runs and five hits over 6 2-3 innings. The left-hander struck out two and walked three.
John Jason homered and drove in three runs for Seattle, which matched its highest-scoring inning and game of the season.
Third baseman Adrian Beltre's throwing error with two outs in the fifth led to two unearned runs and ended the night for Scott Feldman (0-3).
That troubled fifth for Feldman (0-3) and the Rangers came at the same time team president Nolan Ryan and general manager were announcing that Texas had reached a minor league deal with free agent right-hander Roy Oswalt.
Feldman was making his second start in place of injured Neftali Feliz since the closer-turned-starter went on the disabled list May 21 with right elbow inflammation. The big right-hander gave up four runs (two earned) with three strikeouts and three walks over 4 2-3 innings.
The injury to Feliz accelerated the Rangers' interest in Oswalt, who they had been in contact since the offseason. They had watched him pitch at his home in Mississippi only days before Feliz got hurt.
"I don't really have a reaction to it," Feldman said. "I just work here, and do what I'm told to do here."
Oswalt, who has pitched 11 major league seasons with Houston (2001-10) and Philadelphia (2010-11) is scheduled to travel to Texas on Thursday for a physical. If all goes well, he will then go to Triple-A Round Rock and on Saturday make the first of what will likely be several minor league starts.
Seattle got going in the fifth after a one-out double by light-hitting Brendan Ryan, the No. 9 batter hitting only .176 coming into the game, before Dustin Ackley walked. Alex Liddi then struck out, but both runners advanced on a double steal
The Rangers then intentionally walked Ichiro Suzuki to load the bases. Jesus Montero hit a grounder wide of third that Beltre fielded in the hole. But his throw sailed high over first baseman Mike Napoli's head and out of play, allowing two runs.
"It's definitely good for us to be able to put up some runs, especially late in the game,' said Kyle Seager, whose leadoff double in the eighth was his third hit. "Every once in a while you break out. Any time we can get everybody putting up some good ABs like that, it's definitely positive."
Hamilton's homer over Vargas bumped his majors-best RBIs total to 56. His grounder in the first pushed home Andrus, who had doubled and advanced on a wild pitch.
Seattle's big eighth came after Vargas had thrown his last pitch.
"I said 'Come on. Let's get some runs guys'. I proceeded to go put ice on," Vargas said. "I got to take the ice off before the inning was over, so that's a good thing."
Notes: The six runs in the eight matched the most Mariners had scored in an inning this season. The first seven batters reached — on six hits and an error by shortstop Andrus — before Suzuki's sacrifice fly. ... The six runs also equaled the most allowed in an inning by Texas. ... Rangers RF Nelson Cruz, who had two outfield assists in the series opener, had another Tuesday night when he made a lunging catch in the seventh and then doubled off Ackley at second base.
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