Rangers Win Season Opener 3-2

"I've never won like this," the burly slugger said after a 3-2 victory over Seattle on Monday. "Only way you can go is up."

Actually, it was a pretty good way for the defending AL West champs to start, with Cole Hamels overcoming a shaky first two innings and keeping Texas close before three walks by Hernandez and two errors by the Mariners in a three-run fifth inning put the Rangers in front.

"However we can win a game, especially against Felix Hernandez, I'm good," said Adrian Beltre, whose potential double-play grounder ended up scoring the go-ahead run when shortstop Ketel Marte misplayed it.

Seattle had a chance to join the Boston Beaneaters (1887-96) as the only major league clubs to win 10 straight openers. Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager homered early for the Mariners, but the midgame mistakes cost them in the debut of manager Scott Servais.

Hernandez fell to 6-1 in nine opening day starts. Hampered by a lack of run support throughout much of his career, the ace right-hander gave up one earned run in six innings, walking five and striking out six.

"That's not me," Hernandez said. "I was missing a lot of pitches. All game. I would say I was wild, but when I got in trouble, I made good pitches."

Lefty reliever Jake Diekman struck out Cano on a wild swing during a perfect eighth inning. Closer Shawn Tolleson had a perfect ninth for a save in just the second win for Texas when getting one hit. The other was 1-0 at Kansas City in July 1993.

Seager opened the ninth with a grounder that second baseman Rougned Odor fielded and threw from near the right field line to Tolleson covering the bag.

Cano and Seager matched the number of lefty hitters to homer off the left-handed Hamels all last season in the first two innings.

Cano's line drive bounced into the first couple of rows in right field, and Seager hit a soaring shot over the 407-foot mark in right-center.

"Obviously I got them off to a good start," said Hamels, who struck out eight in seven innings. "At the same time, I've got to be able to focus and manage the game. I think that's kind of what I was able to do along those lines."

Odor opened the Texas fifth with a walk, stole second and was racing toward third when Seager misplayed Elvis Andrus' grounder in front of him.

Shin-Soo Choo's bases-loaded walk ruined Hernandez's shutout, then Fielder ended the no-hit bid with a bloop away from the shift into shallow left field to tie the score. Beltre's sharp one-out grounder with the bases loaded kicked off Marte's glove.

"Felix just lost command a little bit, and we didn't make all the plays behind him," Servais said. "Other than that, I thought we played a ball game. Our pitching was outstanding all day."