Cliff Lee Dominant, M's Keep Hope Alive While Rangers Jeopardize First Place Standing

Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Cliff Lee struck out seven in a complete-game effort and Michael Saunders belted a three-run homer in Seattle's 4-2 win over the Texas Rangers to open a four-game series.

Lee (4-2) gave up seven hits and surrendered two runs in the ninth inning, but held on to win his third straight decision. The lefty, who hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in each of his last three appearances, logged his second complete game of the season and 15th of his career.

Rob Johnson added an RBI single for the Mariners, who snapped a three-game skid. Chone Figgins had three hits in the win.

Scott Feldman (3-6) permitted nine hits and four runs -- three earned -- over 5 2/3 innings for the Rangers, who were coming off series wins against the Rays and White Sox.

Mike Carp and Johnson singled to set the stage for Saunders with one out in the second. He blasted a 1-2 offering over the wall in right field.

Carp reached base on an error from first baseman Joaquin Arias the next inning and scored on Johnson's single to left field for a 4-0 lead.

Lee escaped a jam in the fourth inning. Singles by Craig Gentry and Vladimir Guerrero put men on first and second with two outs, but Josh Hamilton grounded out to end the threat.

A similar situation ensued in the bottom of the fifth, but Gentry grounded out to cap the frame.

Lee retired the next 10 men before Michael Young and Ian Kinsler singled to begin the ninth. Guerrero then flied out to center field with Young tagging and moving to third. Hamilton grounded a single up the middle for Texas' first run. Pinch-hitter Justin Smoak grounded a ball sharply in the hole on the left side, but third baseman Jose Lopez made a diving stop and threw to second base for a close force play, but another run scored.

Texas continued to keep hope alive when David Murphy grounded a ball to the right side. Lee tried to bare-hand the flip of first baseman Casey Kotchman, but dropped the ball as he reached first. Lee was given an error.

With men on first and second, Kotchman caught a pop-up from Matt Treanor to end the game.

Monday marked the start of a 10-game road trip for the Mariners with additional stops in San Diego and St. Louis...Lee is 6-3 lifetime against the Rangers...Texas selected two players in the first round of the MLB draft on Monday, taking Jake Skole, a high school outfielder from Georgia at No. 15 and catcher Kellin Deglan, a high school catcher from Canada at No. 22.