ARLINGTON, Texas - The Texas Rangers managed to squeak by the Seattle Mariners with a 4-3 win, giving right-hander Nick Tepesch the win. While the home team's combination of good pitching, offense and defense to win the game was the main story, Seattle's Robinson Cano managed to steal the show briefly in the fourth inning.
Cano ended his 29-game homerless drought after launching a line-drive home run just barely out of the reach of Texas centerfielder Michael Choice to tie the game at three runs apiece; but curiously enough, both of his two home runs on the season have come at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
"I knew I hit it pretty good," Cano said. "You never know if it's a line drive or not."
Cano, however, was just glad to get the home run and tie the game to give his team a chance in the game.
"It always feel good, not only because I hit a homer, it always feels good in that situation to come into the game," Cano said. "You get a chance, that's what you want to do as a hitter."
While Cano did get the best of Tepesch in the fourth, the Mariners second baseman admitted his pitching opponent was solid otherwise in the win.
"He was putting the ball where he wanted it, that's key for a pitcher, if they throw the ball where they want it," Cano said. "He was pitching pretty good."
Cano's 29-game homerless drought was tied for the fourth longest of his career and with his seven multi-hit performances in his last 10 games, the sluggers' batting average has lifted from .288 to .326 during the span.
In the offseason, Cano signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Mariners, and with the long homerless drought over, thanks to another trip to Arlington; Seattle is hoping its star second baseman will get his power stroke back soon.
Follow Shawn Ramsey on Twitter: @ShawnPRamsey
