Kyle Seager never realized just how bad a slump he was in until after hitting a go-ahead homer for the Seattle Mariners.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Kyle Seager never realized just how bad a slump he was in until after hitting a go-ahead homer for the Seattle Mariners. Dorance Armstrong Jr. Cowboys Jersey . Seager snapped a career-worst 0-for-21 slide with a two-run drive in the eighth inning of a 3-1 victory over the AL West-leading Texas Rangers on Friday night. "I didnt know until the postgame (TV) interview that it was 0-for-21," he said. "Its one of those things I had kind of realized that I hadnt gotten a hit in a little while." Derek Holland pitched two-hit ball with six strikeouts over seven scoreless innings for Texas before Neal Cotts (4-2), whose 0.93 ERA was the lowest among American League relievers, walked Nick Franklin. Seager then lined an 0-2 pitch into the Rangers bullpen in right-centre field, his 18th homer of the season but first in 13 games. "We knew hes struggling a little bit," acting manager Robby Thompson said. "The thing about him, you would never know it, the way he handles it, carries himself whether hes 10 for 20 or 0 for 21. Thats the sign of a pro right there. Hes a battler, thats why hes in there in the third hole." Cotts was clearly frustrated leaving a pitch over the middle of the plate against a fellow lefty. Justin Smoak added a homer in the ninth for Seattle, which won for only the seventh time in 19 games. Hisashi Iwakuma (11-6) struck out eight and allowed one run in seven innings. The Rangers had the bases loaded in the eighth when A.J. Pierzynski, whose RBI single in the fourth produced the only Texas run, had an inning-ending popout to third baseman Seager. After Mariners reliever Oliver Perez walked and hit a batter to start the eighth, the only batters he faced, Elvis Andrus had a sacrifice bunt before Ian Kinsler struck out against Yoervis Medina. Adrian Beltre, already with two hits and hitting .452 over a 16-game span, was intentionally walked before Charlie Furbush came on to retire Pierzynski. "I didnt think he hit it too good," Furbush said. "I heard the bat break." Danny Farquhar struck out two in a perfect ninth for his sixth save in nine chances, bouncing back from a blown save in his last appearance two nights earlier. Rangers manager Ron Washington twice went out to argue calls by Angel Hernandez, an umpire he publicly criticized in the past. Both calls were for players coming off second base -- one defensively, the other a Texas base runner. In the Seattle third, Rangers second baseman Kinsler was taking a throw for a force out when he shuffled his feet while trying to get out of the way of an oncoming runner. Hernandez immediately motioned that Kinsler came off the base before making the catch, and replays showed that to be the case. An inning later, on his RBI single to left-centre, Pierzynski was called out at second after sliding in ahead of the tag by Franklin before briefly coming off the base. It didnt appear on replays that Pierzynski was being tagged when he came off before reaching out with his hand to get back on the base. Hernandez, behind the tangled bodies, called the runner out, bringing Washington out again as Pierzynski was flat on back screaming in disgust. "He overslid the bag, and you got the benefit of a replay," Washington said diplomatically. Two years ago, after Washington and first base coach Gary Pettis got ejected by Hernandez on a disputed balk call, the Rangers manager said, "Angel is bad. Thats all there is to it." Even before his reunions with Hernandez, Washington had gone out to talk with umpire Doug Eddings about an inning-ending play in the first when Andrus tried to score from first on Beltres single to right. Andrus dived head-first, but was initially blocked from reaching the plate while catcher Humberto Quintero made a sweeping tag. It was unclear on replays if he actually tagged Andrus, or if the runner ever did touch the plate. NOTES: Seager has a 12-game hitting streak at Rangers Ballpark. ... When Andrus tried to reach on a bunt leading off the sixth, Quintero bounced up to field the ball and then made a strong throw even while one of his cleats came off his feet. ... Rangers ace Yu Darvish (12-5), the major league strikeout leader with 207, turned 27 on Friday. He starts the series finale against the Mariners on Sunday. ... When Jurickson Profar struck out to end the second, he contended that the ball bounced in the dirt after he fouled it off. Eddings got the ball back from Quintero, who was already going back to the dugout, and confirmed the strikeout. He showed the ball to Profar. Replays, though, showed it might have bounced into the catchers mitt. Deonte Thompson Jersey . Toronto FC hosts the three-time Italian league champions in a friendly Aug. 7 at BMO Field, a game that Roma CEO Italo Zanzi said falls within a key part of their pre-season. Allen Hurns Jersey . Winners of two straight, the Flames will try to become the first team in 25 years to go three consecutive games without taking a penalty Saturday night in San Jose. http://www.shoptheofficialcowboys.com/Elite-Michael-Gallup-Cowboys-Jersey/ . Niese pitched seven steady innings on a rainy Tuesday night and Daniel Murphy had three hits to lead New York to a 6-1 victory over the Phillies.Andy Murray has earned his place at the top of the world rankings after hard work and big decisions, says Annabel Croft. Murray became the worlds No 1 without having to play a shot following the withdrawal of Milos Raonic in the Paris Masters semi-final on Saturday afternoon.The 29-year-old is the first British singles player to hold top spot since computerised rankings began in 1973 and will play John Isner in Sundays final, live on Sky Sports 3, after the American beat Marin Cilic. It was a feat roundly praised by the Sky Sports commentary team. Peter Fleming called it an amazing turnaround from the Briton, while Croft said: Its a culmination of a fantastic season with sheer hard work and the commitment to bring out a high level of tennis every week.He made that change in his head last summer. He had back surgery [three years ago] which was a massive decision and people were asking have we seen the best of Andy? Andy Murray trained in front of the Paris crowd after they missed out on watching his semi-final He slipped down the rankings and my goodness has he come back with a vengeance. He may well go on to dominate through 2017.Its not probably the way he wanted to do it but it shows its a lot more about the year. Andy said the other day getting to be world No 1 was not about just one match.Its the level of consistency hes put out there for the year. Many congratulations to him. Its a shame we wont see that match but what a fabulous achievement and what a fabulous day for him.Novak Djokovic, who lost to Cilic in the French capital in Fridays quarter-final, had been No 1 for 122 weeks and completed his career Grand Slam when he conquered Murray in the French Open final in June. Live ATP Masters Tennis November 6, 2016, 2:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Murray has had a stunning run, making 11 finals in his last 12 tournaments, winning 73 matches in the year. Marcus Martin Jersey. He also becomes the first player other than Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal to lead the rankings since Andy Roddick in 2004.Fleming added: Since the summer hes been virtually unbeatable and he fully deserves this ranking. Its no good though if he just stops.There have been 20 players who have been no 1 and several have only been there for a couple of weeks. The challenge is to be the year-end No 1. To do that he probably needs to win in London at the World Finals. Novak Djokovic says Andy Murray deserves to become the world No 1 But he needs a different mindset now. Hes probably still in hunter-mode through to the O2 finals because he still needs to win that or do better than Novak to become No 1 at the end of the year which is a bigger deal.Its knowing you have to maintain that incredible level every week - but hes been doing that over the last seven months.Watch the Paris Masters final Murray v Isner, live on Sky Sports 3 on Sunday from 2pm Also See: Murrays magnificent year Tennis on Sky Murray becomes world No 1 Murrays finest achievement Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '