Twelve Ks for Ray, 12 wins in a row for Mariners

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray doesn't recall being part of a run quite like what the Seattle Mariners are on these days. Everything is a new experience in the big leagues for All-Star rookie center fielder Julio Rodríguez, and he just keeps doing impressive things.

Ray struck out 12 without a walk over 6 2/3 innings before Rodríguez hit a emphatic grand slam as the Mariners extended their longest winning streak in more than two decades to 12 games with an 8-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Friday night.

“He doesn’t let the moment be bigger than it is and in that situation,” Ray said of the 21-year-old outfielder who played his 89th game in the majors.

Rodríguez hit his first slam on a full-count pitch with two outs to straightaway center for his 16th homer, and finished with a career-best five RBIs. His run-scoring single in the fourth put the Mariners ahead 3-0.

“Tonight was more of our typical formula, dominant starting pitching," manager Scott Servais said. “We got some big hits tonight, no question about it. Talk about Julio, that is as good as at-bat against a quality bullpen arm. ... The looks in our dugout when that ball went over the fence, was like, did he just really do that? But he’s a special player.”

After Seattle loaded the bases on a single and two walks by reliever A.J Alexy to start the eighth, José Leclerc struck out back-to-back batters, but was unable to get a third strike past Rodríguez.

“We fought, we got within a run, you could feel the momentum. We were one pitch away from, that whole eighth inning, the bottom of the eighth changes,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “It’s heartbreaking. But like I've said many times this year, we've got to bounce back