ARLINGTON, Texas -- A groundball single, a bunt and a bloop single produced another "little ball" victory for the Seattle Mariners.
Dan Wilson's RBI single with one out in the 10th inning lifted the Mariners to a 3-2 victory Saturday night over the Texas Rangers.
Randy Winn greeted reliever Ugueth Urbina (0-4) with a single just inside the foul line, eluding the glove of Rangers first baseman Rafael Palmeiro to open the 10th. Winn went to second on Jeff Cirillo's sacrifice bunt and raced home on Wilson's bloop single over the head of Rangers second baseman Michael Young.
"A grounder, a bunt, and a flare ... that's the type of game they can play with the pitching staff they have," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. "They handle the bat, put the ball in play, bunt, hit-and-run."
Wilson wasn't looking to crush the ball; he was simply trying to advance Winn.
"I'm trying to drive in the run and get the ball to the outfield any way I can," Wilson said. "It wasn't pretty but it did the job."
That's the kind of game manager Bob Melvin favors, helping the Mariners to a 55-31 record, best in the majors.
"Everyone contributed tonight," Melvin said. "Our guys give themselves up to produce runs. We didn't knock anyone over with our bats but we got just enough."
Rafael Soriano (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for his first major league victory.
Shigetoshi Hasegawa got three outs for his third save, retiring Alex Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez in order.
Gonzalez hit a two-run homer, his 20th, and Kevin Mench went 3-for-4 for Texas.
Mariners starter Jamie Moyer gave up two runs and nine hits over 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision a day before he finds out whether he'll get his first All-Star selection. Moyer, Seattle's staff leader with 11 wins, struck out three and walked one.
"When you feel like I did tonight, you don't want to come out," Moyer said. "Facing this team in this ballpark, you just try to stay away from the big inning."
Texas' John Thomson also turned in a strong start, allowing two runs and six hits over seven innings. He struck out five and walked one.
Thomson, who spent his first five-plus years in the National League, is familiar with the type of offensive game the Mariners play.
"I'd heard about the American League waiting for the two- or three-run homer," said Thomson, who pitched for the Rockies and Mets before signing a free agent deal the Rangers in January. "But Seattle plays a lot of National League ball. They bunt and go the other way."
Thomson has gone seven innings in each of his last two starts after changing his windup. Thomson had lost five of seven starts before altering his delivery.
"I have a different mentality with it," Thomson said. "I was aggressive, had good command and threw my slider for strikes."
The Mariners have a major league-best 31-14 road record and are 3-3 on the current road trip. Seattle hasn't had a losing trip this season.
Seattle got the game's first run in the third when Cirillo doubled, went to third on a groundout, and scored on Ichiro Suzuki's groundout.
Texas took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Palmeiro walked and Gonzalez followed with his 425th career homer.
The Mariners tied it at 2 in the seventh. John Olerud led off with a single, and pinch runner Willie Bloomquist went to second on Mike Cameron's walk. Bloomquist took third on Winn's groundout, and scored on Cirillo's sacrifice fly.
Notes: Dallas Mavericks first-round pick Josh Howard threw out the ceremonial first pitch. ... Gonzalez has 20 or more homers in 11 seasons, nine with Texas. ... The Mariners are 4-1 in extra inning games, and Texas is 1-4. ...Suzuki is 10-for-22 in his last six games. He is a career .360 hitter (73-for-203) against Texas.
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