Is it time to panic? M’s swept: Rangers offense bulldozes rival Seattle in weekend routs

As Rangers outfielder Robbie Grossman drilled a two-run double off of Globe Life Field’s left-center wall and pranced into second base, Seattle skipper Scott Servais emerged from the visiting dugout.

In just the third inning, it was 7-0, and starter Bryce Miller’s seventh career start was over. Texas’ hot-hitting, devastating bats gave the young Miller no time to adjust in what was his first-ever look against the Rangers. Before he could blink, he was forced to navigate around runners in scoring position when leadoff hitter Marcus Semien doubled on the fourth pitch.

“It’s hard to sugarcoat anything here,“ Servais said some hours later, after runs continued to pour home. “They roughed us up.”

It only continued. With two outs and two strikes, Jonah Heim dumped a bases-loaded single to deliver a pair of first-inning runs before Texas rallied for five more in the third. Then came Servais.

“They were aggressive. … I’ve got to be better with two strikes,” Miller told reporters. “I had a lot of two-strike counts I didn’t finish.”

“They beat us. They flat-out beat us,” Servais said. “We’ve got to wash it away… and start playing better baseball.”

Seattle’s manager entered the field of play to pull Saturday’s starter even sooner. 23-year-old Bryan Woo, promoted that morning from Double-A Arkansas for his major-league debut, was quickly attacked by Texas for six runs in the first two frames before the Rangers exploded to a 16-6 blowout.

Texas provided both Miller and Woo zero opportunity to settle in and establish secondary pitches. Semien ambushed both on consecutive days with leadoff doubles, and the Mariners, near-always, played from behind.

“I just left too many pitches (in the) middle,” Woo said. “I’m trying to take it pitch-by-pitch. It is what it is. You build off of it, and try to be as present as possible.”

But in Servais’ words, it was the best offense the Mariners have seen in this still-young season. Texas took early command and exploded for 28 runs and 34 hits in the series’ final two games. Seattle bats failed to produce in a 2-0 shutout loss Friday, which marked a Rangers sweep in a crucial meeting between the clubs, which the Mariners began 6.5 games back.

“You really have to locate against a club like that, and get the secondary pitches going,” Servais said. “It wasn’t to be today.”

The trio of losses puts Seattle 9.5 games behind the Rangers for the AL West lead. The clubs won’t meet again until September 22, and the Mariners are again under .500 (29-30) for the first time since May 23.

The Rangers, meanwhile, piled 10+ runs for the 16th time this year, tied for the most by any club in its first 60 games over the last 100 years — joining the 1936 Yankees and 1999 Mariners, per ESPN Stats and Info.

“We’re not playing winning baseball against top-flight teams,” Servais said. “They are a top-flight team.”

A FLURRY OF MOVES

Marco Gonzales, Seattle’s longest-tenured Mariner, was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a left forearm strain, which paved the way for sixth-ranked prospect Bryan Woo’s major league debut in Texas.

In a home start vs. Pittsburgh on May 28, Gonzales felt discomfort and the pain persisted throughout a bullpen session three days later. The left-hander underwent an MRI which, after review by multiple specialists, confirmed the diagnosis of a left forearm strain, per Mariners PR.

Also announced as part of the move — Easton McGee, a right-handed starter who appeared in one game for the Mariners this season (April 29) and blanked Toronto across 6 2/3 innings, was transferred to the 60-day injured list with a right forearm strain.

On Thursday, Seattle optioned outfielder Taylor Trammell to Triple-A Tacoma and recalled 1B/DH Mike Ford, who has hit 1-for-3 (.333) since the promotion.

“He’ll get opportunities here,” Servais said of Ford, who led all qualified Triple-A Tacoma hitters in OPS (1.032) and average (.302) in 49 total games. “Hopefully, he can add a little bit in that DH spot.”

SHORT HOPS

– Rewarded for a dominant, devastating seven-game stretch, Julio Rodriguez was named American League Player of the Week for May 22-28 after batting .467 (14-for-30) with six extra-base hits and seven RBI in that span. J-Rod recorded six multi-hit games and led all American League hitters in batting average (.467), and total bases (24).

– Servais held J.P. Crawford out of Sunday’s game after the shortstop suffered a right knee contusion while diving to tag out Texas’ Leody Taveras at second base on Saturday night. It’s expected to be Crawford’s only missed time, as Seattle enjoys an off-day Monday before commencing a two-game set against the Padres at Petco Park.

“We fully expect he’ll be okay when we get over to San Diego,” Servais said.

ON DECK

The road trip continues: A two-game set in San Diego (June 6-7) is bookended by off-days. The Mariners then meet the Angels over the weekend (June 9-11) before returning home to T-Mobile Park on June 12.