5-4 - Beltre's big bat sends Rangers back above .500

This was a very nice game for the Texas Rangers all around. Derek Holland finally joined the quality start parade the Rangers have had going from their starters thus far this season. In fact, Holland shut the Mariners down for 6 2/3 innings with the hits he allowed coming mostly on soft contact. Holland picked up his first win of 2016 for his effort.

The times Holland was hit hard, Nomar Mazara seemed to be everywhere in right field as he made a couple of plays that I'm 99% sure Shin-Soo Choo doesn't come close to making.

The offense produced eight runs on 12 hits with everyone except Prince Fielder and Ian Desmond getting at least one hit. Elvis Andrus went 3 for 4 on the night and is now hitting .357. Ryan Rua had a couple more hits and is now hitting .375. Maz collected another hit and is now only hitting .500.

The bullpen duo of Andrew Faulkner and Phil Klein threw 2 1/3 innings of perfect ball as the Rangers closed out their first series win in April since around this time two years ago. Essentially, it was the perfect baseball game for Texas Rangers fans.

Player of the Game: This could still very well be Beltre's final season with the Texas Rangers, and if it is, he's gotten off to a great start. In tonight's game he conquered his old haunt Safeco with a three-run dong to break the Mariners' backs in the 3rd and then piled on with a 7th inning two-run double. In addition, he made a couple of plays behind Holland that we'll all realize we took for granted once he's gone.

Up Next: The Rangers close out their first road trip of 2016 with a chance to sweep the Mariners. A.J. Griffin will be looking for his second win of the year as Texas faces young RHP Taijuan Walker for the first time this year.