ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Seager homered in his third straight game, Dane Dunning allowed one run over a career-high 7 2/3 innings and the Texas Rangers beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 on Saturday night.
Seager’s solo homer gave Texas its first run in the first inning since opening day. The Rangers snapped a four-game losing streak.
Dunning (1-1) won for the first time since last Aug. 2, allowing three hits. He struck out five of Atlanta’s first six batters and retired 14 straight before a one-out double in the eighth by Adam Duvall over the glove of left fielder Zach Reks, playing his first big league game this season.
Dunning left with runners on first and third with two out in the eighth. Dennis Santana retired Ronald Acuña Jr., playing his second game this season since being activated Thursday from the injured list, on a full-count grounder to shortstop.
Joe Barlow pitched a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.
Acuña singled home Atlanta's only run.
Dunning’s seven strikeouts equaled a season high in making the longest start by a Texas starter this season.
Bryce Elder (1-3), a rookie who grew about 45 minutes north of Globe Life Field in Decatur, Texas, gave up all three runs on four hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings in his fourth major league start. He struck out one.
The Braves failed to win a third straight game for the third consecutive time this season, leaving the defending World Series champions at 10-12. They haven’t been above .500 since being 2-1 on April 9.
Seager pulled an 0-2 inside cut fastball down the right-field line 406 feet for a two-out solo homer. It was his fourth home run of the season, and the three-game homer streak matches a career-high streak.
The Rangers also received RBI hits by two newcomers to the roster.
Sam Huff, who was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday when Jonah Heim was placed on the paternity list, singled home Reks in the second inning.
Reks, who was recalled from Round Rock earlier Saturday, singled in Andy Ibanez home in the fourth inning with his first big league hit.
Acuna hit a check-swing bloop to shallow right field to score Travis Demeritte in the third.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: RHP Jon Gray (knee) should return to the rotation early next week, probably Tuesday at Philadelphia. He has gone on the injured list after each of his first two starts, initially for a blister.
UP NEXT
Braves: Manager Brian Snitker didn’t announce a starter for Sunday afternoon’s series finale before Saturday’s game.
Rangers: LHP Taylor Hearn (0-2, 7.47 ERA) allowed a combined nine runs in eight innings, including three home runs, in his last two starts. Hearn is from Royse City, Texas, about 50 miles east of Arlington.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
