García (5 RBIs), Dunning (10 K's) lift Rangers

ARLINGTON -- Rangers outfielder Adolis García was designated for assignment on Feb. 10, re-signed to a Minor League deal two days later, called up on April 13 and he hasn’t looked back since.

Since April 15, García leads the Majors with nine home runs, including a three-run bomb in the bottom of the fifth inning of the Rangers' 10-2 win over the Mariners on Sunday at Globe Life Field.

García said he feels blessed and thankful to continue coming up in big spots for the team, but he also emphasized that he goes up to every at-bat with the same mindset and it continues to work out. Manager Chris Woodward said García has worked with the Rangers' hitting coaches to be able to hit pitches with a lot of spin, turning what was one of his weaknesses into a strength.

“I’ve talked about this a lot, but you're starting to see the consistency [at the plate],” Woodward said. “I can't say enough about this guy. He brings a ton of energy, and we've kind of got to reel him in at times, but that's easy. Those are conversations that we can easily have with him, but the talent, I mean it's just showing really well right now.”

Two Texas rookies -- García and Dane Dunning -- rocketed the Rangers to a victory over Seattle, clinching the series win. With Dunning striking out a career-high 10 batters and García’s power at the plate, Texas was able to reach .500 for the first time since April 7.

Woodward said that though both Dunning and García are classified as rookies, neither player carries himself with that mindset.

“[Dunning] doesn't approach the game like a rookie,” Woodward said. “He's well ahead of his years just with his maturity. Adolis, he’s an older guy. He's been around a little bit and he's just getting a chance to play. I think that this is the first time he's been given the opportunity to kind of get out there every day and see what he can do."

Dunning pitched four scoreless before allowing two runs in the top of the fifth inning. He was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam to limit the damage, leaving room for García and the Rangers' offense to take over in the bottom half of the inning. Dunning said he was never in doubt that the offense would respond.

Woodward noted Dunning pulling it together in the fifth inning won the game for the club and kept the momentum in the Rangers’ favor.

Trailing 2-1, Texas scored six runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a leadoff homer from Charlie Culberson and the three-run shot from García. That home run was Garcia’s fourth in the last seven games and his ninth of the season, which leads all rookies.

García also hit an RBI single in both the bottom of the third and sixth innings. His five RBIs on the day were the most for any Ranger in one game over the last two seasons. He has 26 RBIs in 26 games this season.

Dunning’s 10 strikeouts were also a season high for any Rangers pitcher. It marks just the second time in the last nine seasons that a Texas rookie has had a 10-strikeout game. He got 17 swings and misses, mostly utilizing his sinker and slider. Woodward said those two pitches had a little extra bite to them today.

Dunning’s double-digit performance is also tied for the most strikeouts by a Rangers pitcher during the short existence of Globe Life Field. Lance Lynn -- who was traded to the White Sox to acquire Dunning this offseason -- had a 10-K game on Sept. 13 vs. the Athletics.

“I felt like we had a very good game plan going into this game,” Dunning said. “Just knowing that I had to throw up my sinker a lot, and I was able to execute more pitches with the offspeed and get people off my sinker. I was, for the most part, very comfortable throwing my slider and changeup in any count. Being able to do that, I felt like I was able to get them off balance constantly.”