Rangers Edge Mariners in Walk-Off Fashion

Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images

June 28, 2025

Rangers 3, Mariners 2 (10 Innings)

ARLINGTON, Texas (June 28) — The Texas Rangers rode a spectacular walk-off hit by Marcus Semien to beat the Seattle Mariners, 3–2, in extra innings Saturday, marking the fourth walk-off win for the Rangers in 2025. With another quick turnaround, they will aim for the series win Sunday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 pm Central at Globe Life Field. Right-hander Luis Castillo (4–5, 3.69 ERA) will take the mound for the Mariners, while the Rangers will counter with righty Jack Leiter (4–5, 4.55 ERA).

Eager Seager

Both teams traded zeroes for the first two innings. The Mariners got on the board first in the top of the third with Kumar Rocker on the mound. Dominic Canzone stepped to the plate and hit a leadoff homer to right, his fifth of the year.

The Rangers, however, managed to leapfrog them in the run column in the bottom of the inning. With Bryan Woo on the mound for the Mariners, Alejandro Osuna led off with a walk, but was caught stealing by catcher Cal Raleigh soon after.

After Kyle Higashioka flied to center for the second out, Josh Smith reached on an E6, bringing Seager to the dish. He gave the Rangers a 2–1 lead with a two-run shot to right. It was the 10th long ball of the season for Seager, and his second in as many days.

Extra Extra

The Mariners made things interesting the top of the sixth. Raleigh set the table with a one-out single to right. A wild pitch from Rocker to Luke Raley moved Raleigh to second. He moved to third moments later when Fraley grounded to first. On deck was Randy Arozarena, who plated the tying-run in the form of Raleigh, with a single up the middle.

For the second consecutive day, the relentlessness of both teams resulted in extra innings, prompting the crowd of 35,506 to break out their bubble wrap. Fast forward to the bottom of the 10th. Reliever Andres Munoz was pressed into action once again for the Mariners with Osuna representing the automatic runner.

Sam Haggerty entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Higashioka to lead off. The crowd let out a synchronized groan as Haggerty struck out swinging. On deck was Smith, who was hit by a pitch. After a brief delay so the Rangers’ training staff could tend to Smith, a wild pitch from Munoz moved both runners up 90 feet. Munoz issued a free pass to Seager, bringing up Semien. With one out, the bases loaded, and a full count, Semien sent a ground ball to right to send in the winning run represented by Osuna. He came running home to a mob at the plate.

What Went Right for the Rangers

Great things happen when you don’t stop playing the game, and that was the case for the Rangers. They held the Mariners off the scoreboard while waiting for the perfect time to get back on it. They got the big hit they needed, which was Semien’s single in the 10th.

This was the seventh career walk-off plate appearance for Semien. His most recent walk-off hit was also a single against Muñoz on September 22, 2024 in the ninth. Saturday was his 12th multi-hit game of the year and he is batting .343 (34-for-99) in his last 26 games to rise from .173 to .231.

What Went Wrong for the Rangers

The problem the Rangers had Saturday came in the sixth inning when Arozarena hit his RBI single that tied the game, 2–2. Seager’s home run provided a slim lead, but the Rangers were unable to protect it, resulting in extra stanzas.

Good Effort by Rocker

Rangers starter Kumar Rocker turned in his second quality start of the season, leaving with the scored tied at two after tossing six innings. His line was 4 H, 2 R-ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 1 HR, 2 HB, WP, 97 pitches/67 strikes. He threw a career-high 97 pitches and has set a new career mark in three straight outings. Rocker faced the minimum through his first two frames for the first time in his career.

He surrendered his first career home run at Globe Life Field, the solo shot to Dominic Canzone to lead off the third. Rocker hit two batsmen, this after plunking 3 of 212 batters faced in his career entering Saturday. He has fashioned a 2.35 ERA in four starts at Globe Life Field this year. He has an 11.34 ERA in five starts on the road.

Boo Woo

Mariners starter Bryan Woo did not factor into the decision Saturday despite limiting the Rangers to two unearned over six innings while registering a career-high nine strikeouts. The two runs he allowed both came on Seager’s two-run shot in the third inning which was immediately preceded by a fielding error which would have accounted for the final out of the frame.

Woo has allowed a home run in five of his last six games, as his nine home runs allowed in that span are second-most in the majors at the conclusion of Saturday’s game. He generated nine swing-and-miss strikes during the first two innings, tied for his most whiffs in the first two frames this season, and his 18 total whiffs also tied a ‘25 high.

After giving up Semien’s walk-off hit, Munoz took the loss. His record now sits at 3–1 with an ERA of 1.16. He also walked one and struck out one which accounted for the only out he recorded.

Bochy’s Postgame Comments

After the game, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy fielded questions on both his offense and defense. “It was just a tremendous at-bat,” he said of Semien’s. “It’s tough duty off that guy [Muñoz]. It was just battle, battle, battle, and he got enough of one pitch where he could do something with it, and obviously it was the game-winner. He put together an at-bat that we needed today.”

As for Rocker, Bochy was full of praise. “Rocker, I mean, he really stepped up, didn’t he?” he said. “He’s been throwing the ball well. We needed him to get us deep with this bullpen. What a terrific job he did. It’s really been cool to watch how he’s come back and thrown the ball the way he has. And the bullpen again, they stepped up. It took a well-pitched game to win that one.”