The Rangers added Josh Hamilton on Monday, then went out and showed why he's worth taking a chance on.
The Rangers' offense again lacked any spark in a 3-1 loss to the Mariners. They managed eight hits, but could not stack them together. It took an error to score their lone run.
"I believe that these guys are continuing to grind it out," manager Jeff Banister said. "Obviously they're not getting the results that we want."
Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo is struggling most of all. An 0-for-4 Monday dropped his average to .096, worst in the majors. Choo is hitless in his last 20 at bats.
"It's been a challenge for Choo this month," Banister said. "He continues to work, he continues to study. This is a guy that has proven to be a professional hitter, a lifetime .290 hitter if you will. We believe in what he's going to be. This has obviously been a tough stretch for him."
After waiting through a 55-minute rain delay, things were tough from the start for the Rangers. Starter Yovani Gallardo (2-3) walked the first two batters of the game, leading to two runs for Seattle.
"I think that first inning I was trying to do a little bit too much, trying to over-throw instead of staying within myself and make pitches down in the zone," Gallardo said. "You never want to start the game off walking the first two guys. It def-initely could have been a lot worse, to be honest."
It also could have been a lot better. The Rangers blew two double-play oppor-tunities in the inning and Choo let what appeared to be a catchable ball drop in front of him for a hit.
One of Mariners' runs scored on a throwing error by shortstop Elvis Andrus.
"We didn't handle the baseball the way we should," Banister said.
The other run came off a single by former Ranger Nelson Cruz, making his first Arlington appearance in a Mariners uniform.
The Rangers' offense showed some life in the fourth inning with a walk and two hits off Seattle starter Taijuan Walker (1-2). However, it resulted in just one run.
Facing the Rangers' lineup allowed Walker to lower his ERA from 10.66 to 6.86.
Seattle converted a two-out walk into an insurance run in the fifth for a two-run lead.
The Rangers threatened in the ninth by putting two on, but Robinson Chirinos lined out to center field to end the game. Chirinos also flew out to center field - swinging at the first pitch - when the Rangers had two on in the seventh.
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
