SEATTLE -- Joe Saunders felt he pitched OK. The line didn't look so good.
Saunders surrendered A.J. Pierzynski's three-run homer in the seventh inning of the Seattle Mariners' 8-3 loss to the Texas Rangers on Monday night.
"It was one of those weird nights where I thought I pitched better than the results," he said. "I've just been having some bad luck."
Saunders (10-13) was charged with seven runs and nine hits in seven innings to fall to 1-5 with a 7.71 ERA in his last seven starts.
Alex Rios had two hits and two RBIs as the Rangers picked up their fifth win in seven games. Elvis Andrus celebrated his 25th birthday with three hits and an RBI.
It was more than enough run support for Travis Blackley (2-1), who allowed three runs and five hits over six innings in his first win since he was acquired in a trade with Houston on Aug. 14.
"With all the injuries we've had, especially pitching injuries, anyone we can get that can come in and give us six innings and a quality start and give us a chance, that's an added bonus," Pierzynski said. "We've had a bunch of guys step in kind of from out of nowhere and done some good things for us."
Kyle Seager hit his 20th home run of the season for the Mariners, who have lost four in a row.
"We've got to just collectively get it together," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. "We just haven't competed at home plate like I'd like to see us do, be tougher outs, get over that hump and get back on track."
Saunders got off to a slow start, and the Rangers took advantage. Saunders hit Craig Gentry leading off the game and Andrus followed with a single. The runners moved up on Ian Kinsler's sacrifice before Adrian Beltre was walked intentionally to load the bases.
After Pierzynski bounced into a fielder's choice, Rios singled to center to lift Texas to a 2-0 lead.
The Mariners rallied in the third on Brad Miller's tying two-run single.
"It got in on me a little bit, but luckily it dropped," Miller said. "I just wanted to cash in some runs, get us back in it."
Seager hit a drive to right with one out in the fourth, but that was all for Seattle.
The Rangers scored two runs in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead, and Saunders very easily could have escaped the inning unscathed.
Rios' leadoff double bounced off the glove of diving right fielder Franklin Gutierrez, and Jeff Baker's infield single glanced off Saunders' glove before hitting second base umpire Dale Scott. With one out, second baseman Nick Franklin bobbled a possible double-play ball and was only able to get the runner at second, allowing a run to score.
"Debacle. Absolute debacle," Saunders said of the inning. "It's just something I'm going through right now. Just have to keep your head up, your chin up and keep pushing on."
The Rangers' lead was down to one before Pierzynski hit a drive to right after Beltre was intentionally walked with two out and a runner on second in the seventh. It was Pierzynski's 15th homer in his first season with AL West-leading Texas.
"It was the right thing to do right there," Wedge said of the intentional walk. "If you have a chance to pitch around Beltre you've got to do it. He's one of the hottest hitters over the last couple months. It just didn't work out for us."
Mitch Moreland added his 19th homer in the eighth, giving the Rangers an 8-3 lead.
NOTES: The Mariners activated Gutierrez from the disabled list and designated RHP Aaron Harang for assignment. ... Rangers OF Leonys Martin (sprained right ankle) was out of the lineup for the second straight game.