Mariners 6, Rangers 2: Hisashi Iwakuma pitched eight strong innings for the third consecutive start as visiting Seattle defeated Texas in the opener of their two-game set.

Kyle Seager went 3-for-5 and delivered a two-run single during a four-run third inning as the Mariners won their second straight contest following a four-game slide. Dustin Ackley, Robinson Cano and Nick Franklin each had two hits and one RBI.

Iwakuma (3-0) allowed two runs, six hits and one walk before exiting as Seattle evened the season series at four games apiece. Adrian Beltre homered and Alex Rios had an RBI single for the Rangers.

Beltre’s second-inning blast gave Texas the early lead before Michael Saunders ignited a four-run third with a run-scoring single to center field. Seager’s base hit put Seattle ahead and Franklin capped the rally with a sacrifice fly.

Cano added an RBI single in the fourth off Colby Lewis (3-3), who allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings. Rios got the Rangers within 5-2 with his base hit in the bottom of the inning before Ackley smacked a run-scoring double into the left-center gap in the seventh.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Rangers 1B Prince Fielder (neck) missed his third straight game and OF Leonys Martin (neck) also sat out. … Mariners OF-DH Corey Hart (hamstring) was placed on the 15-day disabled list and Franklin was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma. … Texas optioned C J.P. Arencibia to Triple-A Round Rock and recalled C Chris Gimenez from the same club.