Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Justin Smoak stroked the go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning and made the game-saving catch in the ninth to send the Seattle Mariners to a 6-5 win over the Texas Rangers to open a three- game series.

The Mariners nearly wasted a 6-3 lead in the ninth. Fernando Rodney walked Michael Choice and Elvis Andrus, back-to-back, with the bases loaded and one out. Adrian Beltre, who was just activated off the disabled list Friday, then lined a ball destined for the right-field corner, but Smoak made the diving stop. Choice was frozen by the incredible play and Smoak tagged the base for the game-ending double play and secured Rodney's fourth save.

"Stretched as far as I could stretch and it happened to go in the glove," Smoak said.

Robinson Cano hit a two-run double for the Mariners, who have won two in a row following an eight-game skid. The only other time Seattle won consecutive games came during a 3-0 start.

Yoervis Medina (1-1) pitched one inning to get the win.

Prince Fielder had two hits and scored once for the Rangers, who lost for the second time in 10 games.

Neal Cotts (1-2) loaded the bases on a single by Cano, a walk to Corey Hart and a bunt hit by Stefen Romero. Smoak then doubled to left, just beyond the reach of Choice. Kyle Seager hit a bloop single to left to plate Romero.

Alexi Ogando entered from the bullpen and uncorked a wild pitch to make it a three-run cushion.

J.P. Arencibia scored on a wild pitch in the third, and the Rangers moved to a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Beltre doubled to center to plate Andrus.

The Mariners tied it in the fifth on Cano's two-run double to left, but Fielder made it 3-2 Texas in the sixth when he scored on a wild pitch from Dominic Leone.

Rangers starter Robbie Ross Jr. pitched the first six innings and Seattle's Roenis Elias fanned six over the opening 5 2/3 frames.

"We battled. Right there at the end, I thought we were gonna win that thing," Ross said.