Times wires
Friday, May 6, 2011
Mariners 3, Rangers 1
SEATTLE — Justin Smoak hit his fifth homer, Jason Vargas pitched shutout ball into the eighth and the Mariners won for the seventh time in nine games, taking two of three from the Rangers to move within two games of .500 after starting the season 8-15. Smoak, a first baseman who was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Cliff Lee to Texas in July, homered off Colby Lewis in the second and finished with three hits. Vargas allowed one run and six hits in 7 2/3 innings.